Dual uptake of microplastic fibres in the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla L.
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www.postersession.com Dual uptake of microplastic fibres in the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla L. Bianca Tree, Gan Moodley and Deborah Robertson-Andersson University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Life Sciences Introduction Microplastics Plastic pollution is an escalating issue worldwide and production is ever increasing. Researchers have only recently discovered the major threat posed by microplastics. Microplastic fibres raise particular concern due to their size and shape. The aim of this study was to determine the uptake of microplastic fibres in the sea urchin T. gratilla, given that there are two possible uptake routes in echinoids. Figure 2. Presence of microplastic fibres in the gut of individual sea urchins after 48 hours of feeding on microplastic treated seaweed. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Presence of microplastic fibres Replicates This investigation highlights the vulnerability of sea urchins (keystone species and ecosystem engineers) to microplastic pollution via dual uptake mechanisms (feeding & WVS) Keystone species have a bigger effect on their environment relative to its abundance. Sea urchins are both keystone species & important ecosystem engineers. Microfibers are easily taken up into the WVS of sea urchins. Accumulation of microplastics in the WVS may cause blockages within the canals and tubes, reducing the efficiency of water flow through the organism. Water Vascular system (WVS) Uptake route 1 T. gratilla Madreporite (= sieve plate) Water enters the madreporite and goes via the stone canal to the ring canal. SEM image of madreporite pores of Stomopneustes variolaris (220x) SEM image of madreporite pores T. gratilla (70.2 ± 4.3 μm) (220 X) Important for locomotion, feeding and gas exchange. Figure 1. Average number of fibres taken up into the WVS of T. gratilla at different microfiber concentrations. The greater the concentration of microplastics in the water, the greater the uptake into the WVS. Sea urchins and kin are the only group to have a water vascular system. 1900 microfibres are removed from a single polyester jersey every wash! Microplastics attach to seaweed surfaces and consequently hinders algal photosynthesis and therefore would be available to organisms feeding on algae. Low numbers High numbers Feeding Uptake route 2 References: 1. Browne, M. A., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2007). Microplastic—an emerging contaminant of potential concern?. Integrated environmental assessment and Management, 3(4), pp. 559-561 2. Browne, M. A., Crump, P., Niven, S. J., Teuten, E., Tonkin, A., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2011). Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines woldwide: sources and sinks. Environmental science & technology, 45(21), pp. 9175-9179 5 mg.L -1 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 1 2 5 Average number of microfibres Microfibre concentration ( ) mg.L -1 2 1
Transcript of Dual uptake of microplastic fibres in the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla L.
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Dual uptake of microplastic fibres in the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla L.
Bianca Tree, Gan Moodley and Deborah Robertson-Andersson
University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Life Sciences
Introduction
Microplastics
Plastic pollution is an escalating issue worldwide and
production is ever increasing.
Researchers have only recently discovered the major threat
posed by microplastics. Microplastic fibres raise particular
concern due to their size and shape.
The aim of this study was to determine the uptake of
microplastic fibres in the sea urchin T. gratilla, given that
there are two possible uptake routes in echinoids.
Figure 2. Presence of microplastic fibres in the gut of
individual sea urchins after 48 hours of feeding on
microplastic treated seaweed.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Pre
sence
of m
icro
pla
stic
fibre
s
Replicates
This investigation highlights the vulnerability of sea urchins (keystone species and ecosystem
engineers) to microplastic pollution via dual uptake mechanisms (feeding & WVS)
Keystone species have a bigger
effect on their environment
relative to its abundance.
Sea urchins are both keystone
species & important ecosystem
engineers.
Microfibers are easily taken up into the WVS
of sea urchins. Accumulation of
microplastics in the WVS may cause
blockages within the canals and tubes,
reducing the efficiency of water flow
through the organism.
Water Vascular system (WVS)Uptake route 1
T. gratilla
Madreporite (= sieve plate)
Water enters the madreporite and goes via the
stone canal to the ring canal.
SEM image of madreporite pores of Stomopneustes
variolaris (220x)
SEM image of madreporite pores T. gratilla
(70.2 ± 4.3 µm) (220 X)
Important for
locomotion,
feeding and gas
exchange.
Figure 1. Average number of fibres taken up into the WVS
of T. gratilla at different microfiber concentrations.
The greater the concentration of
microplastics in the water, the greater the
uptake into the WVS.
Sea urchins and
kin are the only
group to have a
water vascular
system.
1900microfibres are removed
from a single polyester
jersey every wash!
Microplastics attach to seaweed
surfaces and consequently hinders
algal photosynthesis and therefore
would be available to organisms
feeding on algae.
Low
numbers
High
numbers
FeedingUptake route 2
References:1. Browne, M. A., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2007). Microplastic—an emerging contaminant of potential concern?. Integrated environmental assessment and Management, 3(4), pp. 559-561
2. Browne, M. A., Crump, P., Niven, S. J., Teuten, E., Tonkin, A., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2011). Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines woldwide: sources and sinks. Environmental science & technology, 45(21), pp. 9175-9179
5 mg.L-1
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 1 2 5
Avera
ge n
um
ber
of
mic
rofi
bre
s
Microfibre concentration ( )mg.L-1
2
1
