This study investigates the ingestion and impact of microplastics on zooplankton, focusing on a range of taxa common to the northeast Atlantic. Using bio-imaging techniques, the researchers documented the ingestion, egestion, and adherence of microplastics in various zooplankton species. They found that 13 out of 15 zooplankton taxa, including copepods, bivalve larvae, and decapod larvae, were capable of ingesting polystyrene beads ranging from 1.7 to 30.6 μm in diameter. Post-ingestion, copepods egested faecal pellets containing microplastics, and microplastics were observed adhering to the external carapace and appendages of exposed zooplankton. The study also demonstrated that exposure to 7.3 μm microplastics significantly reduced algal ingestion rates in the copepod *Centropages typicus*, indicating a negative impact on zooplankton function and health. These findings highlight the potential risks associated with microplastic ingestion in marine ecosystems.This study investigates the ingestion and impact of microplastics on zooplankton, focusing on a range of taxa common to the northeast Atlantic. Using bio-imaging techniques, the researchers documented the ingestion, egestion, and adherence of microplastics in various zooplankton species. They found that 13 out of 15 zooplankton taxa, including copepods, bivalve larvae, and decapod larvae, were capable of ingesting polystyrene beads ranging from 1.7 to 30.6 μm in diameter. Post-ingestion, copepods egested faecal pellets containing microplastics, and microplastics were observed adhering to the external carapace and appendages of exposed zooplankton. The study also demonstrated that exposure to 7.3 μm microplastics significantly reduced algal ingestion rates in the copepod *Centropages typicus*, indicating a negative impact on zooplankton function and health. These findings highlight the potential risks associated with microplastic ingestion in marine ecosystems.