Patterns, dynamics and consequences of microplastic ingestion by the temperate coral, Astrangia poculata

Microplastics (less than 5 mm) are a recognized threat to aquatic food webs because they are ingested at multiple trophic levels and may bioaccumulate. In urban coastal environments, high densities of microplastics may disrupt nutritional intake. However, behavioural dynamics and consequences of microparticle ingestion are still poorly understood. As filter or suspension feeders, benthic marine invertebrates are vulnerable to microplastic ingestion. We explored microplastic ingestion by the temperate coral Astrangia poculata. We detected an average of over 100 microplastic particles per polyp in wild-captured colonies from Rhode Island. In the laboratory, corals were fed microbeads to characterize ingestion preference and retention of microplastics and consequences on feeding behaviour. Corals were fed biofilmed microplastics to test whether plastics serve as vectors for microbes. Ingested microplastics were apparent within the mesenterial tissues of the gastrovascular cavity. Corals pr...微塑料（Microplastics，粒径小于5毫米）已被学界证实对水生食物网构成显著威胁：它们可在多个营养级被生物摄食，并可能发生生物富集。在城市近岸环境中，高密度微塑料可能干扰生物的营养摄入。然而，人们对微塑料摄入后的行为动态及其引发的后续效应仍知之甚少。作为滤食性或悬浮摄食生物，底栖海洋无脊椎动物极易受到微塑料摄入的影响。本研究针对温带珊瑚*Astrangia poculata*的微塑料摄入情况展开探究。我们在来自罗德岛的野外采集珊瑚群落中，检测到每个珊瑚虫平均摄入超过100个微塑料颗粒。在实验室环境中，我们通过向珊瑚投喂微塑料微珠，以明确其对微塑料的摄入偏好、滞留特征，以及微塑料对其摄食行为的影响。我们还向珊瑚投喂附着生物膜的微塑料，以验证塑料是否可作为微生物的载体。摄入的微塑料可在珊瑚胃循环腔的肠系膜组织中被清晰观测到。珊瑚摄食……