title: Microplastics in the Terrestrial Ecosystem: Implications for Lumbricus terrestris (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae).
abstract: Plastic debris is widespread in the environment, but information on the effects of microplastics on terrestrial fauna is completely lacking. Here, we studied the survival and fitness of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) exposed to microplastics (Polyethylene, <150 μm) in litter at concentrations of 7, 28, 45, and 60% dry weight, percentages that, after bioturbation, translate to 0.2 to 1.2% in bulk soil. Mortality after 60 days was higher at 28, 45, and 60% of microplastics in the litter than at 7% w/w and in the control (0%). Growth rate was significantly reduced at 28, 45, and 60% w/w microplastics, compared to the 7% and control treatments. Due to the digestion of ingested organic matter, microplastic was concentrated in cast, especially at the lowest dose (i.e., 7% in litter) because that dose had the highest proportion of digestible organic matter. Whereas 50 percent of the microplastics had a size of <50 μm in the original litter, 90 percent of the microplastics in the casts was <50 μm in all treatments, which suggests size-selective egestion by the earthworms. These concentration-transport and size-selection mechanisms may have important implications for fate and risk of microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems.
authors: Agroecología, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur , Unidad Campeche, Av Poligono s/n, Ciudad Industrial, Lerma, Campeche Mexico.|Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Esperanza
authors: E
authors: Huerta Lwanga
authors: Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Hennie
authors: H
authors: Gertsen
authors: Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Harm
authors: H
authors: Gooren
authors: Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Piet
authors: P
authors: Peters
authors: Soil Quality Department, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Salánki
authors: Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: van der Ploeg
authors: Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.|IMARES - Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen UR , P.O. Box 68, 1970 AB IJmuiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Besseling
authors: Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.|IMARES - Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen UR , P.O. Box 68, 1970 AB IJmuiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Albert A
authors: AA
authors: Koelmans
authors: Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University , Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Violette
authors: V
authors: Geissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D009426:Netherlands; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010969:Plastics / Q000633:toxicity*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000633:toxicity; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D020959:Polyethylene