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Animals
Special Issues
The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota
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The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 16777

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Monique Mancuso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Country (CNR), Messina, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
Interests: microplastics; seawater; sediments; marine organisms; mediterranean sea antarctica; arctic
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Teresa Bottari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Country (CNR), Messina, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
Interests: microplastics; microfibers; anthropogenic pollution; marine biota; seawater
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Microplastics are widespread in all environments, especially in aquatic and marine environments, they are found both on the surface and in depth, in water and sediments, in coastal areas and in the open sea, they are everywhere in the sea, and have been reported at the Poles also. In recent years, the scientists trying to understand what are the effects on marine organisms and the possible consequences for humans. At the moment the information available to us is few and fragmented, so the purpose of this special issue is to bring together as many works as possible on the effects that marine microplastics have on the marine biota and, if necessary, what solutions to adopt to mitigate this problem. So, we are pleased to invite you to send your manuscript to this Special Issue. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Monique Mancuso
Dr. Teresa Bottari
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • microplastics
  • pollution
  • microfibers
  • anthropogenic pollution
  • effects
  • marine animals
  • marine biota
  • seawater
  • sediment

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3177 KiB  
Article
Subchronic Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastic Differently Affects Redox Balance in the Anterior and Posterior Intestine of Sparus aurata
by Filomena Del Piano, Adriano Lama, Anna Monnolo, Claudio Pirozzi, Giovanni Piccolo, Simone Vozzo, Davide De Biase, Lorenzo Riccio, Giovanna Fusco, Raffaelina Mercogliano, Rosaria Meli and Maria Carmela Ferrante
Animals 2023, 13(4), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040606 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2025
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems. MPs are introduced mainly by ingestion acting locally or in organs far from the gastroenteric tract. MPs-induced health consequences for fish species still need to be fully understood. We aimed to investigate the effects [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems. MPs are introduced mainly by ingestion acting locally or in organs far from the gastroenteric tract. MPs-induced health consequences for fish species still need to be fully understood. We aimed to investigate the effects of the subchronic oral exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) (1–20 μm) in the gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata) used as the experimental model. We studied the detrimental impact of PS-MPs (25 and 250 mg/kg b.w./day) on the redox balance and antioxidant status in the intestine using histological analysis and molecular techniques. The research goal was to examine the anterior (AI) and posterior intestine (PI) tracts, characterized by morphological and functional differences. PS-MPs caused an increase of reactive oxygen species and nitrosylated proteins in both tracts, as well as augmented malondialdehyde production in the PI. PS-MPs also differently affected gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase). Moreover, an increased up-regulation of protective heat shock proteins (HSPs) (i.e., hsp70 and hsp90) was observed in PI. Our findings demonstrate that PS-MPs are responsible for oxidative/nitrosative stress and alterations of detoxifying defense system responses with differences in AI and PI of gilthead seabreams. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota)
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12 pages, 1651 KiB  
Article
First Assessment of Micro-Litter Ingested by Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Monk Seals Found Stranded along the Coasts of Samos Island, Greece
by Guido Pietroluongo, Belén Quintana Martín-Montalvo, Simone Antichi, Anastasia Miliou and Valentina Costa
Animals 2022, 12(24), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243499 - 11 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3181
Abstract
This study is the first to assess the occurrence of micro-litter ingested by marine megafauna in the north-eastern Aegean Sea. A total of 25 specimens from four species of marine mammals, including dolphins and monk seals, and two species of sea turtles, found [...] Read more.
This study is the first to assess the occurrence of micro-litter ingested by marine megafauna in the north-eastern Aegean Sea. A total of 25 specimens from four species of marine mammals, including dolphins and monk seals, and two species of sea turtles, found stranded along the coastline of Samos Island, Greece, were selected for the analysis. Litter particles, identified as microplastics (MPs), were ubiquitous throughout all sections of the gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach and intestine) in all specimens. Overall, the MPs most frequently found were black fibres 0.21–0.50 mm in size. These results provide insight into the extent of micro-litter ingestion and contamination in marine vertebrates. Here we propose a method of standardisation to establish a baseline for marine taxa in this region of the Mediterranean Sea, where knowledge of the topic is still lacking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota)
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14 pages, 1976 KiB  
Article
Microplastic-Contaminated Feed Interferes with Antioxidant Enzyme and Lysozyme Gene Expression of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Leading to Hepatopancreas Damage and Increased Mortality
by Songsak Niemcharoen, Thanida Haetrakul, Dušan Palić and Nantarika Chansue
Animals 2022, 12(23), 3308; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233308 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2992
Abstract
Microplastic pollution can interfere with aquatic animal health and nonspecific immunity, increasing the potential for pathogen infection in crustaceans. However, the long-term effects of microplastics on crustacean immunity are less understood, especially regarding their toxicity in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). [...] Read more.
Microplastic pollution can interfere with aquatic animal health and nonspecific immunity, increasing the potential for pathogen infection in crustaceans. However, the long-term effects of microplastics on crustacean immunity are less understood, especially regarding their toxicity in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Effects of high-density polyethylene microplastics (HDPE-MPs) in feed on the mortality rate, hepatopancreas, and nonspecific immune system gene expression of Pacific white shrimp are presented. The LC50 at day 28 of HDPE-MP exposure was determined as 3.074% HDPE-MP in feed. A significant upregulation of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) genes was observed in shrimp that were fed with 0.1 and 0.5% of HDPE-MP; then, they were downregulated significantly, except for the SOD gene expression of shrimp fed with 0.1% of HDPE-MP. The lysozyme (LYZ) gene was upregulated significantly in shrimp that were fed with 0.5, 1, and 3% HDPE-MP for 7 days and downregulated significantly in HDPE-receiving groups for at least 14 days. Significant histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas were observed in the treatment groups. The histopathological score of each lesion was correlated with the increase in HDPE-MP concentration. This study shows that the ingestion of HDPE microplastics can alter the expression of nonspecific immune system genes and damage the hepatopancreas in Pacific white shrimp. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota)
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Review

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20 pages, 379 KiB  
Review
Microplastic Interactions and Possible Combined Biological Effects in Antarctic Marine Ecosystems
by Roberto Bargagli and Emilia Rota
Animals 2023, 13(1), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010162 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4273
Abstract
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are the most remote regions on Earth, and their quite pristine environmental conditions are increasingly threatened by local scientific, tourism and fishing activities and long-range transport of persistent anthropogenic contaminants from lower latitudes. Plastic debris has become one [...] Read more.
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are the most remote regions on Earth, and their quite pristine environmental conditions are increasingly threatened by local scientific, tourism and fishing activities and long-range transport of persistent anthropogenic contaminants from lower latitudes. Plastic debris has become one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous synthetic wastes in the global environment, and even at some coastal Antarctic sites it is the most common and enduring evidence of past and recent human activities. Despite the growing scientific interest in the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the Antarctic environment, the lack of standardized methodologies for the collection, analysis and assessment of sample contamination in the field and in the lab does not allow us to establish their bioavailability and potential impact. Overall, most of the Southern Ocean appears to be little-affected by plastic contamination, with the exception of some coastal marine ecosystems impacted by wastewater from scientific stations and tourist vessels or by local fishing activities. Microplastics have been detected in sediments, benthic organisms, Antarctic krill and fish, but there is no clear evidence of their transfer to seabirds and marine mammals. Therefore, we suggest directing future research towards standardization of methodologies, focusing attention on nanoplastics (which probably represent the greatest biological risks) and considering the interactions of MPs with macro- and microalgae (especially sea-ice algae) and the formation of epiplastic communities. In coastal ecosystems directly impacted by human activities, the combined exposure to paint chips, metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), contaminants of emerging interest (CEI) and pathogenic microorganisms represents a potential danger for marine organisms. Moreover, the Southern Ocean is very sensitive to water acidification and has shown a remarkable decrease in sea-ice formation in recent years. These climate-related stresses could reduce the resilience of Antarctic marine organisms, increasing the impact of anthropogenic contaminants and pathogenic microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota)
17 pages, 2895 KiB  
Review
Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics?
by Nunziatina Porcino, Teresa Bottari and Monique Mancuso
Animals 2023, 13(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010147 - 30 Dec 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3226
Abstract
The present review provides detailed information on the adverse effects of MPs on wild marine organisms, including tissue damage, fish condition, oxidative stress, immune toxicity, and genotoxicity. A bibliometric analysis was carried out on CiteSpace (version 6.1.R3) (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA) to [...] Read more.
The present review provides detailed information on the adverse effects of MPs on wild marine organisms, including tissue damage, fish condition, oxidative stress, immune toxicity, and genotoxicity. A bibliometric analysis was carried out on CiteSpace (version 6.1.R3) (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA) to verify how many papers studied the effects on wild marine species. The results showed a total of 395 articles, but only 22 really presented data on the effects or impacts on marine biota, and of these, only 12 articles highlighted negative effects. This review shows that the observed effects in wild organisms were less severe and milder than those found in the experimental conditions. The knowledge of negative effects caused by direct ingestion of microplastics in wild animals is still limited; more efforts are necessary to fully understand the role of MPs and the adverse effects on wild marine organisms, the ecosystem, and human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Microplastics on Marine Biota)
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