Effects of microplastic ingestion on hydrogen production and microbiomes in the gut of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber

Title data

Hink, Linda ; Holzinger, Anja ; Sandfeld, Tobias ; Weig, Alfons ; Schramm, Andreas ; Feldhaar, Heike ; Horn, Marcus A.:
Effects of microplastic ingestion on hydrogen production and microbiomes in the gut of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber.
s.l. , 2022 . - 37 p.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.22.497054

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an environmental burden. MP enters food webs via ingestion by macrofauna, including isopods (Porcellio scaber) in terrestrial ecosystems. However, MP-effects on the host and its gut microbiome are largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that biodegradable (polylactic acid, PLA) and non-biodegradable (polyethylene terephthalate, PET; polystyrene, PS) MP have contrasting effects on P. scaber mediated by changes of the associated gut microbiome. Although the isopods avoided food containing PS, isopod fitness after eight-week MP-exposure was unaffected. Qualitative and quantitative 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA analyses of gut microbiomes indicated general MP effects, MP-type specific indicator taxa, and stimulation by PLA compared to MP-free controls. Isopods emitted hydrogen, and its production increased and decreased after PLA-food and PET- or PS-food ingestion, respectively, relative to controls as indicated by microsensor measurements. Gut pH was unaffected by MP. We identified the gut of P. scaber as significant mobile source of reductant for soil microbiomes likely due to Enterobacteriaceae related fermentation activities that were stimulated by lactate generated during PLA-degradation. The findings suggest negative effects of PET and PS on gut fermentation, modulation of isopod hydrogen emissions by MP pollution, and the potential of MP to affect terrestrial food webs.

Further data

Item Type:	Preprint, postprint
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Professor Animal Population Ecology > Professor Animal Population Ecology - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heike Feldhaar Research Institutions > Collaborative Research Centers, Research Unit > SFB 1357 - MIKROPLASTIK Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Professor Animal Population Ecology Research Institutions Research Institutions > Collaborative Research Centers, Research Unit
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology 500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology)
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2022 09:59
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2022 09:59
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/70150