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Cited by 117Microplastics and Plastic PollutionMarine Biology and Ecology ResearchEnvironmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Ingestion and fragmentation of plastic carrier bags by the amphipod Orchestia gammarellus: Effects of plastic type and fouling load

Open access
Hodgson, D.J., Bréchon, A.L., Thompson, R.C.·2018·Marine Pollution Bulletin
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.057
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Abstract

Inappropriate disposal of plastic debris has led to the contamination of marine habitats worldwide. This debris can be ingested by organisms; however, the extent to which chewing and gut transit modifies plastic debris is unclear. Detritivores, such as amphipods, ingest and shred natural organic matter and are fundamental to its breakdown. Here we examine ingestion and shredding of plastic carrier bags by Orchestia gammarellus. A laboratory experiment showed these amphipods shredded plastic carrier bags, generating numerous microplastic fragments (average diameter 488.59μm). The presence of a biofilm significantly increased the amount of shredding, but plastic type (conventional, degradable and biodegradable) had no effect. Subsequent field observations confirmed similar shredding occurred on the strandline. Rates of shredding will vary according to amphipod density; however, our data indicates that shredding by organisms could substantially accelerate the formation microplastics in the environment.

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  • Physical and chemical changes in polymers can be caused by environmental factors including light, heat, mechanical abrasion, moisture, chemical conditions, or biological activity.

    “Physical and chemical changes in polymers can be caused by environmental factors including light (photo-oxidation), heat (photothermal oxidation), mechanical abrasion, moisture, chemical conditions or biological activity (fungi, bacteria, yeasts, algae, and their enzymes) 24,37,38 .”

    From Environmental Deterioration of Biodegradable, Oxo-biodegradable, Compostable, and Conventional Plastic Carrier Bags in the Sea, Soil, and Open-Air Over a 3-Year Period (2019) · cites this paper as [24]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says UV exposure enhances plastic degradation, and the Conclusion (page unavailable) reports shredding by amphipods and recognizes biological factors alongside physical and chemical degradation. The paper does not identify heat, moisture, chemical conditions, or the listed microbes and enzymes as causes of polymer change, nor does it establish the named oxidation mechanisms. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Hodgson, D. J., Bréchon, A. L., & Thompson, R. C.
Affiliations
University of Plymouth (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Hodgson, D.J.
  • Thompson, R.C.
ORCID
Venue
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-02
Volume
127
Pages
154-159
ISSN
0025-326X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.057
OpenAlex
W2771750170
Cited by
117
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 2
FWCI
2.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Marine Pollution Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine Biology and Ecology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
Keywords
Orchestia gammarellus, Amphipoda, microplastic fragmentation, plastic ingestion, biofouling, biodegradable plastics, degradable plastics, marine plastic debris, detritivores, strandlines
MeSH terms
Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Feces, United Kingdom, Plastics, Waste Products, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Ecosystem, Amphipoda, Biofouling

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