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Hit the target: A new experimental method to select bioindicators of microplastic ingestion by marine fish
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Researchers developed a scoring system to identify the best fish species for monitoring microplastic pollution in the marine environment. Testing eight fish species from the central Tyrrhenian Sea, they evaluated factors like how readily each species ingests microplastics and how well they reflect local contamination levels. The approach aims to help standardize biomonitoring programs across different marine regions as required by European environmental legislation.
Implementing biomonitoring programs for assessing the impact of microplastic ingestion on marine organisms is a priority to verify the effectiveness of measures adopted by legislative frameworks to deal with plastic pollution. At the European level, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive mandates Member States to establish a unified monitoring approach. However, due to the vast range and differences in marine regions, the selection of bioindicators must be tailored locally. The present study proposes a bioindication score to rapidly assess the aptitude of different species in providing an adequate description of the bioavailability of microplastics. The bioindication score is validated through the analysis of eight fish species from the Central Tyrrhenian Sea, for which a set comprising two pelagic (Scomber colias and Trachurus trachurus) and two benthopelagic/demersal species (Pagellus acarne and Mullus barbatus) is identified as the best group to obtain ecologically relevant data on microplastic ingestion in the study area.
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Microplastic Ingestion by Marine Fish from the Central Tyrrhenian Sea: Toward the Identification of Regional Bioindicators
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Researchers assessed microplastic ingestion by marine fish from the Central Tyrrhenian Sea as part of efforts to meet EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive monitoring requirements. The study developed standardized sampling and analysis protocols to better harmonize MP monitoring across member states.
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Researchers found that monitoring microplastic ingestion by fish requires a multispecies approach, as different feeding guilds — benthic, demersal, and pelagic — accumulate microplastics at varying rates and sizes, making any single-species indicator insufficient for assessing marine contamination.
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Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species, evaluating how biological and environmental factors influence ingestion rates across 2,222 individual fish. The study assessed gastrointestinal tract contents to determine the extent and patterns of microplastic contamination. The findings suggest that both species-specific biology and environmental conditions play important roles in determining microplastic ingestion levels in commercial fish.
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This feasibility study assessed using fish gastrointestinal tracts as biomonitors for environmental microplastic contamination, evaluating sampling protocols, species selection, and analytical methods to establish standardized biomonitoring frameworks for marine plastic pollution.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.