Date of Publication
11-2025
Document Type
Bachelor's Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Subject Categories
Biology
College
College of Science
Department/Unit
Biology
Thesis Advisor
Jowi Tsidkenu P. Cruz
Defense Panel Chair
Priscilla Hope P. Swann
Defense Panel Member
Maria Rowena Romana-Eguia
Zeba F. Alam
Abstract (English)
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the leading plastic pollutants in the world because of its exceptionally slow degradation rate. Since the past decades, numerous studies have highlighted the potential of mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) as a means for Polyethylene (PE) biodegradation. However, low survival and consumption rates, and high residual Polyethylene (PE) in mealworm frass remain a significant issue. This study aims to use probiotic-enhanced Tenebrio molitor to increase survival rates, LDPE consumption, and degradation. A completely randomized design was used to assign 200 larvae to five treatments: Control 1 with bran and LDPE, Control 2 with bran only, and three probiotic groups receiving bran and LDPE with the addition of Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus plantarum, or Bacillus subtilis supplements over a span of 117 days. LDPE consumption differed across treatments (F = 4.65, p = 0.008), where the highest mean consumption occurred in Control 1 (0.01876 g), followed by B. subtilis (0.01386 g), L. plantarum (0.01199 g), and S. boulardii (0.00997 g). Frass analysis showed lower normalized residual LDPE for L. plantarum (0.067) and B. subtilis (0.11) compared with Control 1 (0.16), while S. boulardii had the highest residual (0.22), suggesting weaker degradation. Probiotic supplementation changed outcomes in strain-specific ways. L. plantarum and B. subtilis improved LDPE degradation but reduced survival while S. boulardii maintained moderate survival without improvement in degradation, indicating a tradeoff between plastic loss and host performance.
Abstract Format
html
Abstract (Filipino)
Ang Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) ay isa sa mga pangunahing plastik na nagdudulot ng polusyon dahil sa napakabagal nitong pagkasira. Sa lumipas na ilang dekada, maraming pag- aaral na ang nakapag-bigay pansin sa potensyal ng mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) sa Polyethylene (PE) biodegradation. Gayunpaman, nananatiling suliranin ang mababang antas ng kaligtasan, pagkonsumo at ang pagkakaroon ng mataas na nalalabi o residwal ng Polyethylene (PE) sa dumi ng mealworm. Layunin ng pag-aaral na ito ang paggamit ng probiotic-enhanced na Tenebrio molitor upang mapataas ang antas ng kaligtasan, pagkonsumo ng LDPE at antas ng pagkasira nito. Gumamit ng randomized complete block design kung saan itinakda ang 200 larvae sa limang treatment: Control 1 (bran + LDPE), Control 2 (bran), at tatlong probiotic groups na binigyan ng bran at LDPE na may karagdagang Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus plantarum, at Bacillus subtilis sa loob ng 117 araw. Nagkakaiba ang pagkonsumo ng LDPE sa iba’t ibang treatment (F = 4.65, p = 0.008), kung saan ang pinakamataas na mean ng pagkonsumo ay nakita sa Control 1 (0.01876 g) na sinundan ng B. subtilis (0.01386 g), L. plantarum (0.01199 g), at S. boulardii (0.00997 g). Sa frass analysis, ipinakita na mas mababa ang normalized residual LDPE para sa L. plantarum (0.067) at B. subtilis (0.11), habang ang S. boulardii ay may pinakamataas na residual (0.22), na nagpapahiwatig ng mas mahinang degradation. Ipinakita ng kabuuang resulta na nagdulot ng strain-specific na pagbabago ang probiotic supplementation. Napabuti ng L. plantarum at B. subtilis ang pagkasira ng LDPE ngunit napababa nito ang antas ng kaligtasan at pagkonsumo, samantalang napanatili ng S. boulardii ang katamtamang survival ngunit hindi ito nakapag-pataas ng degradation, Isang pahiwatig na nagkaroon ng trade-off mula sa pagkawala ng plastik at kakayahan ng host.
Abstract Format
html
Language
English
Format
Electronic
Keywords
Plastics—Biodegradation; Polyethylene
Recommended Citation
Karmacharya, S. C., & Canimo, E. A. (2025). Probiotic-enhanced low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degradation by Tenebrio molitor larvae. Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_bio/167
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Embargo Period
12-9-2026
