@article{fdi:010090788,
  title = {{M}odel exploration of microplastic effects on zooplankton grazing reveal potential impacts on the global carbon cycle},
  author = {{R}ichon, {C}. and {G}orgues, {T}homas and {C}ole, {M}. and {P}aul-{P}ont, {I}. and {M}aes, {C}hristophe and {T}agliabue, {A}. and {L}aufk{\¨o}tter, {C}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}mongst the increasing number of anthropogenic stress factors threatening ocean equilibrium, microplastics ({MP}; < 5 mm) have emerged as particularly worrisome. {I}n situ observations have shown that {MP} accumulate in large areas at the surface ocean where it may threaten the functioning marine species. {I}n particular, experimental evidence has shown that the grazing rates of several zooplankton species may be significantly altered by {MP}. {T}hese direct impacts on zooplankton may alter nutrient and carbon cycling. {H}owever, how these laboratory results may translate into impacts on the global ocean is yet unknown. {H}ere, we use a global coupled physical-biogeochemical model including {MP} ({NEMO}/{PISCES}-{PLASTIC}) to investigate the impacts of {MP} exposure on zooplankton grazing rates. {D}rawing from experimental results, we use varying water contamination impact thresholds to explore the biogeochemical consequences of {MP} impacts on short (10 years) and long timescales (100 years). {O}ur simulations show that the geographical extent of {MP} impacts on zooplankton remains restricted to about 10% of the global ocean surface, even after 100 years of constant {MP} contamination. {H}owever, in the most contaminated regions (e.g. the sub-tropical gyres), [{MP}] has surged from a few mg m(-3) to > 50 mg m(-3). {D}espite their oligotrophic nature and limited contribution to the overall ocean carbon cycle, {MP} impacts on zooplankton grazing could disrupt carbon cycling in these highly contaminated regions (up to 50% reduction in yearly primary production, carbon export fluxes and organic matter remineralisation after 100 years). {O}ur research suggests that persistent {MP} pollution in the ocean could diminish primary production by 4%. {I}n spite of the large sensitivity of our results to the water contamination impact threshold, we suggest {MP} impacts on zooplankton grazing may cause an annual loss of 1 {G}t yr(-1) of exported carbon after 100 years, if {MP} inputs remain constant globally.},
  keywords = {microplastics ; zooplankton ; modeling ; carbon cycle ; ocean grazing},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental {R}esearch {L}etters},
  volume = {19},
  numero = {7},
  pages = {074031 [17 ]},
  ISSN = {1748-9326},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1088/1748-9326/ad5195},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010090788},
}