Microplastics increases the heat tolerance of Daphnia magna under global warming via hormetic effects

The ecological risk assessment of microplastics under global warming receives increasing attention. Yet, such studies mostly focused on increased mean temperatures (MT), ignoring another key component of global warming, namely daily temperature fluctuations (DTF). Moreover, we know next to nothing about the combined effects of multigenerational exposure to microplastics and warming. In this study, Daphnia magna was exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration of polystyrene microplastics (5 mu g L-1) under six thermal conditions (MT: 20 degrees C, 24 degrees C; DTF: 0 degrees C, 5 degrees C, 10 degrees C) over two generations to investigate the interactive effects of micro plastics and global warming. Results showed that microplastics had no effects on Daphnia at standard thermal conditions (constant 20 degrees C). Yet, microplastics increased the fecundity, heat tolerance, amount of energy storage, net energy budget and cytochrome P450 activity, and decreased the energy consumption when tested under an increased MT or DTF, indicating a hormesis effect induced by microplastics under warming. The unexpected increase in heat tolerance upon exposure to microplastics could be partly explained by the reduced energy consumption and/or increased energy availability. Overall, the present study highlighted the importance of including DTF and multigenerational exposure to improve the ecological risk assessment of microplastics under global warming.

Automated summary

This study found that temperature fluctuations and multigenerational exposure have significant impacts on the ecological risk assessment of microplastics. Microplastics had no effects on Daphnia under standard temperature conditions, but increased fecundity, heat tolerance, energy storage, cytochrome P450 activity, and decreased energy consumption under increased mean temperature or temperature fluctuations, indicating a hormesis effect. The study highlights the importance of considering temperature fluctuations and multigenerational exposure to improve the ecological risk assessment of microplastics under global warming.