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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
What do we know about how the terrestrial multicellular soil fauna reacts to microplastic?
Contributor:
Büks, Frederick;
Loes van Schaik, Nicolette;
Kaupenjohann, Martin
Published:
Copernicus GmbH, 2020
Published in:
SOIL, 6 (2020) 2, Seite 245-267
Language:
English
DOI:
10.5194/soil-6-245-2020
ISSN:
2199-398X
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
Abstract. The ubiquitous accumulation of microplastic (MP) particles acrossall global ecosystems accompanies their uptake into soil food webs. Inthis review, we analyzed studies on passive translocation, active ingestion,bioaccumulation and adverse effects within the phylogenetic tree ofmulticellular soil faunal life. The representativity of these studies fornatural soil ecosystems was assessed using data on the type of plastic,the shape, the composition, the concentration and the time of exposure. Available studies cover a wide range of soil organisms, with emphasis onearthworms, nematodes, springtails, beetles and lugworms, each focused onwell-known model organisms. Thus, about 58 % of the studies usedinappropriate concentrations or units, whereas 42 % applied MP concentrationssimilar to amounts in slightly to very heavily polluted soils. In manycases, however, polystyrene microspheres were used, which represent a combination ofplastic type and shape that is easily available but does not reflect themain plastic input into soil ecosystems. In turn, MP fibers are stronglyunderrepresented compared with their high abundance within contaminated soils.A few studies also examined the comminution of macroplastic by the soilfauna. Further properties of plastic such as aging, coating and additiveshave been insufficiently documented. Despite these limitations, there is arecurring pattern of active intake followed by a population shift within thegut microbiome and adverse effects on motility, growth, metabolism,reproduction and mortality in various combinations, especially at highconcentrations and small particle sizes. For the improvement of future studies, we identified the problems with pastexperiments, and we recommend that coming studies consider the type,shape, grade of aging, specific concentrations of MP fractions and long-termincubation in both natural and contaminated soils.