TY - JOUR
T1 - Tardigrades in the marine plastisphere
T2 - New hitchhikers surfing plastics
AU - Lacerda, Ana Luzia
AU - Frias, João
AU - Pedrotti, Maria Luiza
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/3
Y1 - 2024/3
N2 - Tardigrades are remarkable microorganisms known for their extraordinary resilience in diverse environments, including extreme conditions such as outer space. They are known for their interactions with natural substrates in terrestrial and aquatic systems, but have remained largely unexplored in relation to marine plastics. This study aims to investigate the colonization of plastics, ranging from fossil fuel-based to bioplastics, in the coastal zones of four countries (Brazil, Ireland, France and Italy). Here, we report the first documented occurrence of tardigrades colonizing plastic substrates. We identified five amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to the Tardigrada phylum, specifically in a post-consumer polypropylene, in the coastal zone of Galway, Ireland. This discovery raises questions about the characteristics of different plastics influencing on tardigrades' adhesion. Tardigrades hitchhiking on plastics in the oceans could expand their habitat range, possibly displacing native species and altering trophic interactions, with potential consequences for the overall biodiversity.
AB - Tardigrades are remarkable microorganisms known for their extraordinary resilience in diverse environments, including extreme conditions such as outer space. They are known for their interactions with natural substrates in terrestrial and aquatic systems, but have remained largely unexplored in relation to marine plastics. This study aims to investigate the colonization of plastics, ranging from fossil fuel-based to bioplastics, in the coastal zones of four countries (Brazil, Ireland, France and Italy). Here, we report the first documented occurrence of tardigrades colonizing plastic substrates. We identified five amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to the Tardigrada phylum, specifically in a post-consumer polypropylene, in the coastal zone of Galway, Ireland. This discovery raises questions about the characteristics of different plastics influencing on tardigrades' adhesion. Tardigrades hitchhiking on plastics in the oceans could expand their habitat range, possibly displacing native species and altering trophic interactions, with potential consequences for the overall biodiversity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184269750&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116071
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116071
M3 - Article
C2 - 38290365
AN - SCOPUS:85184269750
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 200
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
M1 - 116071
ER -