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Ocean predators as sentinel species for detecting nano- and microplastic prevalence in pelagic food webs
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Researchers tested muscle tissue from dolphinfish and yellowfin tuna caught in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans for nano- and microplastics. Both species contained plastic particles, mostly polyethylene, with amounts varying by ocean region and species, but plastic levels were not linked to each fish's position in the food chain.
Abstract Quantifying nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in ocean predators is fundamental to understanding the prevalence of these contaminants and potential impacts on ecosystem health. Pyrolysis gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with lipid correction was used to determine NMP concentrations and polymer composition in the muscle tissue of two pelagic predators (dolphinfish [ Coryphaena hippurus ], yellowfin tuna [ Thunnus albacares ]) across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Species-specific differences in NMP concentrations were observed, with body burdens often markedly lower in yellowfin tuna relative to dolphinfish within regions or ocean basins. Differences in NMP concentrations were evident among ocean basins for both species while intra-ocean variation within the Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean was more limited. Polyethylene was the dominant polymer present in the muscle tissue of both species followed by nylon-66, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. Spatial variaton in polymer composition and NMP concentrations was reflective of regional plastic emissions and may serve as indicators of an individual’s geographic origin and environmental history. No relationship between NMP body burden and trophic position was observed for either species. Trophic position of yellowfin tuna was consistently higher than dolphinfish in nearly all regions examined despite displaying lower NMP concentrations. Our findings establish that NMPs are pervasive in top predators in the ocean and represent a far-reaching threat to marine ecosystems.
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Ocean predators as indicators of nano- and microplastic prevalence in pelagic food webs
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Researchers measured tiny plastic particles in the muscle tissue of dolphinfish and yellowfin tuna caught across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Polyethylene and other common plastics were found in both species, with amounts varying by location and species, but not linked to how high the fish sat in the food chain.
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Microplastics Contamination of Large Pelagic Fish in the Open Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in large pelagic fish including tunas, mackerels, and amberjacks collected from the open Atlantic Ocean to assess plastic exposure in top predators. They found microplastics present in fish from even remote open-ocean habitats, demonstrating the ubiquity of microplastic contamination and the utility of large migratory fish as indicators of ocean health.
Study of the presence of macroplastics and microplastics in the stomach content of juvenile bluefin tunas and their diet in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Researchers studied the occurrence of both macroplastics and microplastics in the stomach contents of juvenile Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea, examining how widespread plastic pollution in one of the world's most contaminated seas affects a commercially and ecologically important large predator.
First evidence of presence of plastic debris in stomach of large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea
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Researchers examined stomach contents of large predatory fish including swordfish and bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean Sea and found plastic debris in about 18% of the specimens. The ingested plastics ranged from tiny microplastics to large fragments, and were primarily polyethylene and polyester. This is the first study documenting plastic ingestion in large pelagic Mediterranean fish, suggesting that even top ocean predators are exposed to plastic pollution.
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