Harmful algae and pathogens on plastics in three mediterranean coastal lagoons

Type Article
Date 2023-03
Language English
Author(s) Pasqualini Vanina1, Garrido Marie2, Cecchi Philippe3, Connes Coralie4, Couté Alain5, El Rakwe MariaORCID6, Henry Maryvonne7, Hervio Heath DominiqueORCID8, Quilichini Yann1, Simonnet Jérémy9, Rinnert EmmanuelORCID10, Vitre Thomas8, Galgani FrancoisORCID4
Affiliation(s) 1 : UMR SPE CNRS - UMS Stella Mare CNRS, University of Corsica, BP 52, 20250, Corte, France
2 : Environmental Agency of Corsica, 7 Avenue Jean Nicoli, 20250, Corte, France
3 : UMR MARBEC, IRD CNRS IFREMER, University of Montpellier, CC093, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
4 : IFREMER, Laboratoire Environnement Ressources Provence-Azur-Corse (LER/PAC), Station de Bastia, Zone Industrielle de Furiani, 20600, Bastia, France
5 : Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département RDDM, FRE 3206, USM 505, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
6 : IFREMER, Laboratoire Détection, Capteurs et Mesures (LDCM), Centre Bretagne, ZI de la Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, 29280, Plouzané, France
7 : IFREMER, Laboratoire Environnement Ressources Provence-Azur-Corse (LER/PAC), Station de Toulon, Zone Portuaire de Brégaillon, CS 20330, 83507, La Seyne sur Mer, France
8 : IFREMER, Laboratoire Adaptation, Reproduction et Nutrition des Poissons (LARN), Centre Bretagne, ZI de la Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, 29280, Plouzané, France
9 : IFREMER, Laboratoire Santé, Environnement et Microbiologie (LSEM), Centre Bretagne, ZI de la Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, 29280, Plouzané, France
10 : IFREMER, Laboratoire Cycle Géochimique et Ressources (LCG), Centre Bretagne, ZI de la Pointe du Diable, CS 10070, 29280, Plouzané, France
Source Heliyon (2405-8440) (Elsevier), 2023-03 , Vol. 9 , N. 3 , P. e13654 (17p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13654
WOS© Times Cited 3
Keyword(s) Mediterranean coastal lagoons, Transitional waters, Microplastics, Macroplastics, Colonizing microalgae, Potentially harmful microorganisms
Abstract

Plastic is now a pervasive pollutant in all marine ecosystems. The microplastics and macroplastic debris were studied in three French Mediterranean coastal lagoons (Prevost, Biguglia and Diana lagoons), displaying different environmental characteristics. In addition, biofilm samples were analysed over the seasons to quantify and identify microalgae communities colonizing macroplastics, and determine potentially harmful microorganisms. Results indicate low but highly variable concentrations of microplastics, in relation to the period and location of sampling. Micro-Raman spectroscopy analyses revealed that the majority of macroplastic debris corresponded to polyethylene (PE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and to a far lesser extent to polypropylene (PP). The observations by Scanning Electron Microscopy of microalgae communities colonizing macroplastic debris demonstrated differences depending on the seasons, with higher amounts in spring and summer, but without any variation between lagoons and polymers. Among the Diatomophyceae, the most dominant genera were Amphora spp., Cocconeis spp., and Navicula spp.. Cyanobacteria and Dinophyceae such as Prorocentrum cordatum, a potentially toxic species, were also found sporadically. The use of Primer specific DNA amplification tools enabled us to detect potentially harmful microorganisms colonizing plastics, such as Alexandrium minutum or Vibrio spp. An additional in situ experiment performed over one year revealed an increase in the diversity of colonizing microalgae in relation to the duration of immersion for the three tested polymers PE, LDPE and polyethylene terephthalates (PET). Vibrio settled durably after two weeks of immersion, whatever the polymer. This study confirms that Mediterranean coastal lagoons are vulnerable to the presence of macroplastic debris that may passively host and transport various species, including some potentially harmful algal and bacterial microorganisms.

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Pasqualini Vanina, Garrido Marie, Cecchi Philippe, Connes Coralie, Couté Alain, El Rakwe Maria, Henry Maryvonne, Hervio Heath Dominique, Quilichini Yann, Simonnet Jérémy, Rinnert Emmanuel, Vitre Thomas, Galgani Francois (2023). Harmful algae and pathogens on plastics in three mediterranean coastal lagoons. Heliyon, 9(3), e13654 (17p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13654 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00822/93372/