DOI: 10.5061/dryad.12jm63z0j
title: Microplastics alter feeding strategies of a coral reef organism

description: Increasing marine microplastic pollution has detrimentally impacted
 organismal physiology and ecosystem functioning. While previous studies
 document negative effects of microplastics on coral reef animals, the
 potential responses of organisms such as Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF)
 are largely unknown. Here, we document the impact of microplastics on
 heterotrophic feeding behavior of LBF. Specimens of Amphistegina gibbosa
 were incubated in three experimental treatments: (1) Artemia sp. nauplii
 only; (2) pristine microplastic particles only; (3) choice of nauplii and
 pristine microplastic. Feeding rates were observed 24 h after initiation
 of treatments. A separate experiment was conducted to compare the effect
 of conditioned vs. pristine microplastic. Our results indicate that A.
 gibbosa is able to selectively feed on Artemia, avoiding interactions with
 pristine microplastic. However, the presence of conditioned microplastic
 causes similar feeding interaction rates as with Artemia. This suggests
 microplastics with longer residence times may have a larger impact on
 facultative detritivores.
description: All experimental trials were performed in 12-well polystyrene
 plates. Three food choice treatment groups were defined: (1)
 <i>Artemia</i> sp. nauplii only (n = 10 nauplii in each
 replicate); (2) microplastic particles only (n = 10 microplastic particles
 in each replicate); (3) evenly split food choice of
 <i>Artemia</i> sp. nauplii and microplastic (n = 5 each). A
 total of 12 replicates of each treatment group were set up, and a
 randomized design was created to assign treatments to wells. A total of
 five specimens of <i>A. gibbosa</i> were placed into each
 well. Approximately 24 hours after the initiation of the experiment,
 feeding activity of <i>A. gibbosa</i> on nauplii and
 microplastic was assessed visually under a <i>Leica</i>
 binocular microscope, by counting the number of remaining nauplii and
 feeding attempts on microplastic particles and nauplii. For the purpose of
 this experiment, feeding on microplastic is defined as any physical
 interaction with the LBFs’ pseudopodia. Two trials were conducted, with a
 total of 24 replicates (12 per trial) in each treatment. None of the
 specimens were used in both trials. To ensure counting accuracy, an
 additional four counting controls per treatment were established, in which
 no LBF were placed in the well.
description: There are no missing values in the dataset.
 <strong>Pristine Microplastic, Exp. 1
 </strong><br> trial refers to the time points at which the
 Experiment was conducted (trial 1 vs. trial 2)<br> Food choice
 refers to the food source that was presented to the foraminifera (Artemia
 sp. Nauplii vs. Pristine Microplastic)<br> Treatment represents the
 food choices that were offered to the foraminifera (single choice vs.
 Mixed choice)<br> Feeding rate represents the number of particles
 ingested and/or pseudopodal interactions (Particles fed upon
 day-1) <br> <strong>Soaked Microplastic,
 Exp. 2 </strong><br> trial refers to the time points at which
 the Experiment was conducted (trial 1 vs. trial 2)<br> Food choice
 refers to the food source that was presented to the foraminifera (Artemia
 sp. Nauplii vs. soaked Microplastic)<br> Treatment represents the
 food choices that were offered to the foraminifera (single choice vs.
 Mixed choice)<br> Feeding rate represents the number of particles
 ingested and/or pseudopodal interactions (Particles fed upon
 day-1)