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Threatening the Near–Threatened: Microplastics in Jerdon's Catfish (Mystus malabaricus), Endemic to the Global Biodiversity Hotspot, the Western Ghats of India
Summary
Researchers found microplastics in 50% of endemic near-threatened Mystus malabaricus catfish from India's Ulhas River in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, averaging 2.54 particles per fish, predominantly polyethylene films linked to inadequate regional waste management. The contamination of a threatened endemic species in a globally significant biodiversity hotspot signals that microplastic pollution is now penetrating freshwater refuges with critical conservation importance.
Microplastic contamination in freshwater fish poses a significant global threat but remains underexplored in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats of India, where rivers exhibit elevated microplastic levels. This study investigates microplastic contamination in the endemic and near-threatened bagrid catfish, Mystus malabaricus, sampled from the Ulhas River, Maharashtra. Microplastics were isolated and analysed for physical attributes (size, shape, colour) using light microscopy and for chemical composition through µ-Raman spectroscopy. Our findings indicate that 50% of the catfish contained microplastics, averaging 2.54 ± 0.41 particles per fish, with five morphotypes identified, predominantly transparent and grey films made of polyethylene (89.3%) and polypropylene (10.7%). The observed characteristics of microplastics reflect a direct relationship to secondary anthropogenic sources, revealing inadequacies in regional waste management infrastructure. This contamination may adversely affect fish development and pose risks to fish consumers and artisanal fisheries. We propose mitigation strategies based on the findings of this and previous studies on the Ulhas River.