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The ABRACOS dataset: a multidisciplinary marine ecosystem baseline for the western tropical Atlantic (2015–2017)
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Scientists spent two years thoroughly studying a poorly understood stretch of ocean off Brazil, collecting data on everything from water chemistry to fish to plankton, plus checking for mercury and microplastic contamination in marine animals. This detailed baseline matters because it helps researchers track pollution levels in seafood over time and understand how contaminants like microplastics and mercury move through the food chain, which is directly relevant to the safety of fish and seafood people eat from this region.
Abstract. The western tropical Atlantic off Northeast Brazil is a dynamically complex region where major current systems contribute to interhemispheric exchanges, yet it remains one of the least observed ocean areas in terms of integrated, depth-resolved, and ecosystem-wide measurements. The two ABRACOS (Acoustics along the BRAzilian COaSt) surveys, conducted during austral spring 2015 (ABRACOS 1) and austral autumn 2017 (ABRACOS 2) aboard the R/V ANTEA, were designed to address this gap through coordinated multidisciplinary observations spanning the continental shelf, slope, seamounts, and open ocean along the Fernando de Noronha Ridge. Although each survey represents a synoptic seasonal snapshot, hydrographic and current observations from both campaigns have been shown to be representative of canonical spring and autumn conditions in the region. The dataset combines continuous underway measurements — thermosalinograph, ship-mounted ADCP, multifrequency active acoustics (38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz), and meteorological data — with station-based physical, biogeochemical, and biological sampling at 117 oceanographic stations. Station-based observations include 96 CTD-O₂ profiles, 881 discrete rosette bottle samples (salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, pigments, cytometry, and phytoplankton abundance), 266 plankton net deployments, and 116 trawl operations targeting demersal and deep-pelagic communities from 10 to 1,100 m depth. Biological sampling yielded 172,241 taxonomically identified specimens representing 1,532 taxa across planktonic, nektonic, and demersal compartments. The dataset is further complemented by 3,466 stable isotope measurements (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) across particulate organic matter, zooplankton, and demersal and deep-pelagic organisms, as well as mercury concentrations and microplastic occurrence data for 194 and 381 individuals, respectively, collected during ABRACOS 2. All datasets are quality-controlled, harmonised across surveys using consistent station identifiers and taxonomic referencing against WoRMS and Eschmeyer's Catalog, and publicly archived in the SEANOE repository under dedicated DOIs. Having already supported more than 80 peer-reviewed publications across nine thematic domains — from physical oceanography and taxonomy to trophic ecology, anthropogenic contamination, and ecosystem connectivity — the ABRACOS dataset constitutes a unique multi-trophic, multi-compartment, and multi-contaminant baseline for the western tropical Atlantic, designed to support comparative analyses, ecosystem modelling, and synthesis efforts at regional to global scales. The datasets described in this paper are publicly available through SEANOE (https://www.seanoe.org).
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Microplastics analysis performed on micronekton organisms collected during the ABRACOS 2 survey in the Tropical Western Atlantic (3°S–9°S)
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Scientists checked the stomachs of small ocean fish and other tiny sea creatures (called micronekton) from a remote patch of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, and found tiny plastic bits inside 70% of them—over 660 pieces total. This matters because these small organisms are a key food source for bigger fish that end up on our plates, meaning the plastic we throw away may be working its way up the food chain toward us.
Seasonal and Trophic Variation of Microplastic Ingestion in Estuarine Fish from a Port-influenced Amazonian Ecosystem
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Scientists studied fish from estuaries (where rivers meet the ocean) near a busy port in the Brazilian Amazon and found microplastics in their bodies, with the amount varying by season and by what the fish ate. Since these fish are part of the local food supply, this matters because eating contaminated seafood is one way tiny plastic particles can end up in our own bodies. This particular dataset release focuses on sharing the raw measurements and findings so other researchers can verify and build on the work, rather than presenting new conclusions about health risks.
Abundance, Composition, and Distribution of Microplastics in Amazonical on a Non-urbanized Beach
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Researchers found surprising amounts of microplastic pollution (tiny plastic fragments and fibers, mostly from fishing gear and other human trash) on a remote, undeveloped beach in Brazil, showing that even places far from cities aren't safe from plastic contamination. This matters because these plastic particles can be eaten by fish and other seafood, potentially building up in the food chain and eventually reaching our plates.
Seasonal and Trophic Variation of Microplastic Ingestion in Estuarine Fish from a Port-influenced Amazonian Ecosystem
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Scientists studied fish from estuaries (where rivers meet the sea) near a busy port in Brazil's Amazon region to see how much microplastic — tiny plastic particles — they had eaten, and whether this changed by season or by what the fish ate. Since we eat fish, and fish that eat other contaminated fish may build up even more plastic in their bodies, this kind of tracking helps researchers understand how microplastics move through the food chain and potentially onto our plates. This particular paper is a data release, so it focuses on sharing the measurements collected rather than drawing final conclusions about health risks.
Microplastic contamination in tropical estuaries: Contrasting accumulation patterns in oysters driven by local features and condition index
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in oysters from two estuaries in Brazil, even in areas with fewer people living nearby, meaning nearby development isn't the only factor causing contamination. Since oysters are commonly eaten and filter large amounts of water as they feed, this research matters because it shows that microplastic contamination in our seafood may be more widespread and harder to predict than previously thought, even in seemingly cleaner waters.
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