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Open Access CC BY V4.0
Journal article
Microplastic consumption elevates fish oxidative stress but does not affect predator-driven mortality
The Science of the total environment, Vol.983, 179644
2025
PMID: 40409023
Abstract
The ubiquity and abundance of plastic debris is one of the most significant challenges facing marine environments. Recent research has demonstrated that microplastics are consumed by marine organisms from a wide variety of trophic levels. However, little is known about the sub-lethal effects of microplastic exposure on the health of coral reef fishes or their impacts on predator-prey interactions. To examine this, we exposed juvenile Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) to one of two types of polystyrene plastic particles (virgin, or with the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate - DEHP), and a control (no plastic). After 2 days (6 exposures), the initiation of antioxidant metabolism and oxidative defence was quantified. We also exposed the treated juvenile fish to a piscivorous fish (Pseudochromis fuscus) in mesocosms over a 22-h period to investigate whether microplastic exposure affected prey survival. Biomarkers associated with oxidative damage and antioxidant metabolism indicated that microplastic exposure had a negative effect on the health of P. amboinensis. Additionally, P. amboinensis exposed to DEHP microplastics showed the greatest levels of oxidative stress and damage, however the magnitude of this was dependent on the number of ingested particles. Interestingly, survival of P. amboinensis did not differ among plastic treatments during mesocosm survival trials. These results highlight that while studies may not find immediate lethal consequences to plastic ingestion, there may be more subtle sub-lethal costs that may have ecologically important consequences at later life stages, through energetic impacts on growth and energy allocation.
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•Oxidative damage occurs after microplastic (MP) exposure.•DEHP dosed MPs yielded the greatest levels of oxidative stress and damage.•The magnitude of oxidative damage is dependent on the number of ingested particles.•Little effect of MP exposure on the survival of damselfish during survival trials.•This research provides a significant advance to predict the impact of MP on fish.
Details
- Title
- Microplastic consumption elevates fish oxidative stress but does not affect predator-driven mortality
- Authors/Creators
- Amelia M. Mannering - Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandDavid J. Burritt - University of OtagoValeriya Komyakova - University of TasmaniaMaud C.O. Ferrari - University of SaskatchewanGeorge Vamvounis - James Cook UniversityAlexandra M. Gulizia - James Cook UniversityAdam Staples - James Cook UniversityMark I. McCormick - University of WaikatoBridie J.M. Allan - University of Otago
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, Vol.983, 179644
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 991005884951907891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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