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Interactions Between Plastic, Microbial Biofilms and Gammarus pulex: An Initial Investigation
Katey L Valentine1, Alistair B A Boxall2
1Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK. klv501@york.ac.uk.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
|January 7, 2022
Summary
Microbial biofilms on plastic do not attract freshwater invertebrates like Gammarus pulex. This study found no increased interaction with plastic, even when covered in biofilms, suggesting a different ecological role in freshwater systems compared to marine environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Marine plastic biofilms enhance palatability for organisms.
- Limited data exists on freshwater plastic-biofilm interactions.
- Freshwater invertebrates' response to plastic is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the response of freshwater amphipods (Gammarus pulex) to biofilm-covered plastic.
- To determine if biofilms alter plastic attractiveness to freshwater fauna.
- To establish baseline data on freshwater invertebrate-plastic interactions.
Main Methods:
- Exposed Gammarus pulex to biofilm-covered plastic discs (low-density polyethylene and polylactic acid).
- Observed amphipod behavior, including interaction time with plastic and natural food.
- Compared responses to virgin plastic and biofilm-colonized plastic.
Main Results:
- Gammarus pulex did not fragment or consume the plastic discs.
- The presence of colonized plastic did not change the time spent interacting with natural food.
- No increased attraction to biofilm-covered plastic was observed.
Conclusions:
- Biofilm colonization does not increase the palatability or attractiveness of plastic to Gammarus pulex in freshwater.
- Further research is needed on diverse plastic types and biofilm compositions.
- Understanding freshwater invertebrate-plastic-biofilm interactions is crucial for ecological assessments.
