Ceratophyllum Demersum  Alleviates Microplastics Uptake and Physiological Stress Responses in Aquatic Organisms, an Overlooked Ability

Abstract

The distribution of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater ecosystems is becoming more and more serious, and how to effectively remove them is urgent. In this context, our discovery of the submersed plants, C.demersum, as new method for MPs removal from aquatic organisms, stands out. Here, we use a multifaceted approach to identify and validate a potential role of C.demersum in depuration M.nipponense, C. fluminea and B.aeruginosa as the research object. C.demersum group and no-C.demersum group were set. After exposure and depuration, sampling, enumeration of MPs in tissues and determination of relevant physiological reaction enzymes. The results show that in terms of the overall individual depuration effect, the interaction between C.demersum and species is significant, and the depuration effect is related to species. C.demersum effectively reduces the intake of MPs in the digestive tissue of B. aeruginosa, and has the best depuration effect on B.aeruginosa. In terms of digestive tissue, C.demersum has a better depuration effect during short-term exposure to MPs. The depuration effect of MPs on non-digestive tissues of C.fluminea is earlier than that of M.nipponense and B.aeruginosa C.demersum also alleviates physiological responses caused by MPs. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of C.demersum in mitigating the accumulation of MPs in organisms.

Keywords: C. demersum, Microplastics, Depuration, Freshwater aquatic organisms, Biological markers