Microplastics (MPs) have become ubiquitous in the marine environment, and therefore, considerable funding has been allocated to investigating their interactions with biota. One of the remaining knowledge gaps in MPs research, however, involves the colonization of MP surfaces by microorganisms e.g., biofilms. Many laboratory studies involving MPs and marine organisms have investigated the effects of virgin, uncolonized MPs or MPs inoculated with a pollutant of interest, but few have investigated the effects of biofilms on MP interactions with marine organisms. The aim of this study is to investigate how biofilms affect particle clearance, elimination of MPs through feces (egestion), and accumulation of MPs in filter-feeding bivalves, using Mytilus galloprovincialis as a model. MPs of HDPE (2 – 22 mm) were “loaded” with the bacteria, Vibrio harveyi to form biofilms which were then killed with UV radiation and dried. Treatments included exposure to MPs with and without the dead bacterial biofilm. No significant differences were observed between treatments in particle clearance, elimination of MPs in feces, or accumulation of MPs in the digestive gland. Sedimentation rates of bacteria-loaded MPs were significantly lower than virgin MPs possibly suggesting higher bioavailability of MPs with biofilms to marine suspension feeders, although further trials are required
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