Microplastics in Freshwater Sediments Impact the Role of a Main Bioturbator in Ecosystem Functioning

While microplastic transport, fate, and effects have been a focus of studies globally, the consequences of their presence on ecosystem functioning have not received the same attention. With increasing evidence of the accumulation of microplastics at sediment–water interfaces there is a need to assess their impacts on ecosystem engineers, also known as bioturbators, which have direct and indirect effects on ecosystem health. This study investigated the impact of microplastics on the bioturbator Tubifex tubifex alongside any effects on the biogeochemical processes at the sediment–water interface. Bioturbators were exposed to four sediment microplastic concentrations: 0, 700, 7000, and 70000 particles kg–1 sediment dry weight. Though no mortality was present, a significant response to oxidative stress was detected in tubificid worms after exposure to medium microplastic concentration (7000 particles kg–1 sediment dry weight). This was accompanied by a reduction in worm bioturbation activities assessed by their ability to rework sediment and to stimulate exchange water fluxes at the sediment–water interface. Consequently, the contributions of tubificid worms on organic matter mineralization and nutrient fluxes were significantly reduced in the presence of microplastics. This study demonstrated that environmentally realistic microplastic concentrations had an impact on biogeochemical processes at the sediment–water interface by reducing the bioturbation activities of tubificid worms.