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Exploring the link between benthic tunicates and human-driven environmental changes in the central Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay)
Summary
Scientists studying sea squirts (small filter-feeding creatures) in Spanish marinas found that these animals absorb microplastics from seawater at levels matching what's actually in the water around them—making them useful "living indicators" of ocean plastic pollution. Since sea squirts filter water much like shellfish and other seafood do, this research helps us understand how microplastics move through marine environments and potentially into the food we eat, though more research is needed to fully connect these dots.
Benthic tunicates, commonly known as sea squirts or ascidians, are filter-feeder sessile organisms that inhabit different marine habitats, especially rocky seashores. They are commonly found on various submerged anthropogenic surfaces, such as concrete, ropes and plastics, being common in marina docks that represent sheltered habitats for their settlement and proliferation. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the ascidian community in marina docks located in Asturias (Central Cantabrian Sea, northern Spain). Their abundance along the study area was compared and related with different environmental parameters such as chlorophyll a level, turbidity, pH, temperature, salinity, conductivity, redox potential, total dissolved solids and factors derived from anthropogenic activities which are heavy metals, nitrates, silicon levels and marine traffic. In addition, microplastics (MPs) in Microcosmus squamiger were quantified and compared among the different sampled marinas. A total of 18 species were found all over the sampling locations. Lastres and Gijón were the most abundant, rich and diverse localities, followed by Cudillero, El Puntal and lastly, Avilés. This pattern was strongly correlated to salinity and pH. Finally, it was observed that the abundance of MPs in M. squamiger and in water samples was similar in the marinas. Furthermore, the length of these particles was found to be similar in both water and organisms, suggesting consistent patterns of MPs presence in these environments. Results of this study highlight the need for a long-term monitoring of the shifts in ascidians communities as well as further research to collect information on MPs and benthic tunicates.