The role of contaminated prey on planarians’ behaviour and physiology in microplastics research

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Sara Andreia Monteiro da
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/36600
• topic: Freshwater; Invertebrates; Live prey; Polyurethane; Ecotoxicity; Biomarkers; Life-history endpoints; Sub-lethal effects

Microplastics (1 μm to 1 mm) have become a concerning topic in the scientific community when associated with poor plastic waste management. Although the presence and abundance of these particles in freshwater environments have been previously reported, there is still an insufficient number of studies providing information about the potential trophic transfer and its consequences on freshwater benthic organisms. This work aimed to evaluate the behavioural and physiological responses of planarian Girardia tigrina after consuming contaminated prey - Chironomus riparius 4th instar larvae previously exposed to microplastics of Polyurethane (PU-MPs). For this purpose, two investigations were carried out. In the first investigation, it was assessed the effects of PU-MPs (concentrations up to 750 mg/Kg) on C. riparius life history traits (larval size, emergence); and, when exposed to a no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC), larvae behaviour (locomotion) and biochemical responses (oxidative damage, aerobic energy production, and energy reserves). Exposure to PU-MPs did not affect larval size nor imagoes emergence. Notwithstanding, contaminated larvae revealed higher aerobic metabolism underlined by a higher locomotion activity (curling/uncurling) but without compromising energy reserves. In the second experiment, it was assessed the effects of the consumption of contaminated alive prey (exposed to PU-MP NOEC) in a 3h feeding assay on planarians' behaviour (nr of consumed prey, locomotion), regeneration, and physiology (energy reserves, aerobic metabolism, oxidative damage). After the feeding test, planarians consumed 20% more contaminated prey with no changes in their locomotion. The consumption of contaminated prey delayed auricles' regeneration by one day, without resulting in oxidative damage, altered aerobic metabolism or energy reserves. These investigations bring new intel on the role of contaminated prey on planarians' behaviour and physiology in microplastic research.