title: RETRACTED: Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic particles influence larval fish ecology.
abstract: The widespread occurrence and accumulation of plastic waste in the environment have become a growing global concern over the past decade. Although some marine organisms have been shown to ingest plastic, few studies have investigated the ecological effects of plastic waste on animals. Here we show that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic polystyrene particles (90 micrometers) inhibits hatching, decreases growth rates, and alters feeding preferences and innate behaviors of European perch (Perca fluviatilis) larvae. Furthermore, individuals exposed to microplastics do not respond to olfactory threat cues, which greatly increases predator-induced mortality rates. Our results demonstrate that microplastic particles operate both chemically and physically on larval fish performance and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden oona.lonnstedt@ebc.uu.se.
authors.forename: Oona M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Lönnstedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eklöv
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D020387:Food Chain; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010316:Particle Size; D010471:Perches / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical