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Presence of microplastics in three bivalve species on the coastal fringe of Bajo Alto, El Guabo, Ecuador
Original title: Presencia de microplásticos en tres especies de bivalvos en el borde costero de Bajo Alto, El Guabo, Ecuador
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Researchers tested three types of edible shellfish (clams and mussels) from coastal areas near Bajo Alto, Ecuador, finding 1,413 microplastic particles, mostly thread-like fibers, across 91 animals. Anadara tuberculosa clams had the highest counts, and the most contaminated collection sites were located near urban areas.
Microplastic pollution is one of the main threats to mangrove ecosystems, where these particles accumulate in sediments and enter food webs through the organisms that live there. Due to their filter-feeding nature, bivalves retain microplastics in their tissues and serve as reliable bioindicators of coastal environmental quality. This study determines the presence of microplastics in three bivalve species consumed by humans (Anadara tuberculosa, Anadara grandis, and Mytella guyanensis) in the community of Bajo Alto, El Guabo, Ecuador. Ninety-one individuals were analyzed. Microplastics were extracted from soft tissues using alkaline and acid digestion and identified under a microscope. A total of 1,413 particles were counted, predominantly filaments (739), followed by fragments (439) and films (235). Anadara tuberculosa presented the highest microplastic load (845), surpassing Anadara grandis (523) and Mytella guyanensis (45). The highest counts were concentrated on Isla de las Aves and Bajo Alto, sites adjacent to urban areas. These findings support the application of standardized methods and replicable sampling protocols capable of demonstrating the relationship between pollution and the bioaccumulation of microplastics in infaunal organisms.
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