We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic accumulation in snake-eyed lizard (Ophisops elegans Menetries, 1832) after long-term monitoring: habitats matter, not years
Summary
Researchers examined museum specimens of a terrestrial lizard collected between 1986 and 2013 and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of 25 out of 300 individuals, with fibers being most common — demonstrating that microplastic contamination of land-dwelling wildlife has been occurring for decades and spreads through the food chain in areas of human activity.
Microplastics (MPs) have become pervasive environmental pollutants with significant impacts on ecosystems, particularly aquatic environments. As these particles infiltrate various habitats, they are ingested by a wide range of organisms, from plankton to large marine mammals. The ingestion of MPs disrupts the food web, causing physical and chemical harm to animals at multiple trophic levels. Here, we studied the accumulation of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of a terrestrial lizard species after long-term monitoring using museum specimens in the collection of the Fauna and Flora Research and Application Center at Dokuz Eylül University from decades ago. These museum samples were from 1986 to 2013, but not consecutive years. GITs from 300 individuals were analyzed and MPs were detected in the GITs of only 25 individuals. In 25 individuals, the most dominant form of microplastic was fiber. The highest number of MPs was detected in 2001, followed by 1995. It is thought that this accumulation is caused by human activities in the lizard's environment and that it enters the food web indirectly because it lives in areas with high human interaction. Overall, this study shows that MPs have been present in the past, entering the food web of terrestrial species, and that MPs can inherently transfer to other living things. It is understood that MPs will pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem health as they are transferred through the food chain.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic accumulation in a lizard species: Observations from the terrestrial environments
Researchers examined 152 snake-eyed lizards from 18 populations in Turkey and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of about 22% of them. Fibers and fragments were the most common types, likely coming from synthetic textiles and plastic waste in the lizards' habitats. This is one of the first studies showing that microplastic contamination has spread to terrestrial reptiles, meaning land-based food chains are also affected.
Characterization of Ingested Microplastics in a Regional Endemic Lizard Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902) from Türkiye
Researchers found microplastics in 19.35% of Apathya cappadocica lizards examined in Türkiye, with 27 total particles detected, predominantly fibers in navy blue, red, and black colors ranging from 50 to 1,727 micrometers, marking one of the first records of microplastic ingestion in this endemic reptile species.
Spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in true frogs (Ranidae:Pelophylax) populations from Türkiye
Researchers examined preserved frog stomach contents from 146 true frogs collected across Turkey and found microplastics in nearly 60% of individuals, with plastic fibers being the most common form. The findings show that frogs — which live both in water and on land — are useful indicators of microplastic contamination across multiple ecosystems, and that exposure has been occurring for decades.
Preliminary study and first evidence of presence of microplastics in terrestrial herpetofauna from Southwestern Paraguay
Researchers conducted the first study on microplastic ingestion by terrestrial herpetofauna in southwestern Paraguay, finding microplastics in three species including Rhinella diptycha toads, Hemidactylus mabouia geckos, and a Tropidurus lizard species collected between 2019 and 2020.
Microplastic Contamination of the Turkish Worm Lizard (Blanus strauchi Bedriaga, 1884) in Muğla Province (Türkiye)
Researchers examined the Turkish worm lizard (Blanus strauchi) for microplastic contamination, finding MPs in digestive tract contents and providing the first evidence of microplastic ingestion in this fossorial reptile species from a Mediterranean habitat.