Worldwide, microplastics (MPs) pollution has numerous negative implications for marine biota. An extensive and ever-increasing number of studies have emphasized the distinct responses of different species to plastic pollution. Most studies have, however, assumed that species respond to plastic pollution uniformly as ecologically and physiologically homogenous entities, while ignoring intraspecific diversity. Here, we used two key marine ecosystem engineers, the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the South African mussel Perna perna, as model species to test for the effects of plastic contamination - both in the form of MPs ingestion and microplastic leachates (MPLs) - on distinct genetic lineages of each of the two species. We showed that when exposed to MPLs, Mytilus galloprovincialis belonging to the Atlantic lineage move and aggregate significantly less than conspecifics of the Mediterranean lineage. In addition, we assessed MPs ingestion in the Eastern and Western lineages of the brown mussel Perna perna sampled at sites where the two lineages overlap in their distribution along the South African shores. Our results show that plastic pollution can have different effects on distinct genetic lineages of one species and argue for consideration of intraspecific diversity to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the effects of plastics on biodiversity.

Primary Presenter: Lorenzo Cozzolino, CCMAR, Centro de Ciencia do Mar - University of Algarve (lorenzo_cozzolino@hotmail.it)

Authors:

Lorenzo Cozzolino, University of Algarve, CCMAR  (Lorenzo_cozzolino@hotmail.it)

Katy Nicastro, CCMAR; Lille University; Rhodes University  (katynicastro@gmail.com)

Peter Hubbard, CCMAR  (phubbard@ualg.pt)

Laurent Seuront, Lille University; Rhodes University  (laurent.seuront@seuront.com)

Christopher McQuaid, Rhodes University  (c.mcquaid@ru.ac.za)

Gerardo Zardi, CCMAR; Rhodes University; University of Normandie  (zardi73@yahoo.it)