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First evidence of environmental microplastics and their ingestion by Branchinecta gaini and Boeckella poppei in an Antarctic lake
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Scientists collected water samples from an Antarctic lake and found microplastics (0.35–1.61 items per cubic meter, mostly polyester and acrylic fibers) for the first time in this type of remote freshwater environment, and confirmed that two key invertebrate species—a copepod and a fairy shrimp—ingest these particles. Even in one of the world's most isolated ecosystems, microplastic contamination has arrived and is entering the food chain. This baseline data is essential for tracking future contamination trends and understanding ecological risks in polar freshwater systems.
Plastic pollution poses a global threat to aquatic ecosystems due to its persistence, and widespread dispersion. Antarctic ecosystems are no exception, with plastics detected in seawater, marine sediments, meltwater streams, and marine organisms. However, no prior studies have investigated microplastics (MPs) pollution in Antarctic lakes and its consumption by invertebrates. This research assessed MPs densities in an Antarctic lake and experimentally evaluated their ingestion on a native copepod (Boeckella poppei) and an anostracan (Branchinecta gaini) under varying conditions, including MPs concentrations and biofilm presence. Water samples from Ionosférico Lake (King George/25 de Mayo Island, Antarctica) were collected in 2023, and MPs were analyzed using micro-FTIR. Microplastic densities ranged from 0.35 to 1.61 items/m³ with average sizes of 2.0 ± 1.5 mm, and fibers were the most abundant particle type (>80%). The primary polymers identified were polyester (65%) and acrylic (16%). As model organisms, B. gaini and B. poppei were collected from the same lake and used in bioassays, including the use of lake water and irregularly shaped polyethylene and polypropylene particles, two of the most widely produced plastics globally. Experimental results showed no significant alteration in survival but confirmed MPs ingestion in both species, albeit with low grazing rates, and B. poppei ingested more biofilm-coated MPs. This study provides the first evidence of MPs in an Antarctic lake and their ingestion by two key species in this ecosystem, establishing a baseline for understanding MPs contamination and biological interactions in Antarctic freshwater environments.
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Microplastics and their interaction with zooplankton: a gateway to aquatic food webs in Antarctica?
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Researchers sampled marine and limnic surface waters near the Uruguayan Antarctic Base between 2019 and 2022, detecting microplastics in all marine samples at densities of 0.1-1.7 items/m3, predominantly polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, and experimentally exposed Antarctic zooplankton species including Branchinecta gaini, Boeckella poppei, and Salpa thompsoni to irregular microplastics under varying conditions. The study characterized both environmental MP occurrence and species-specific ingestion and survival responses, generating baseline data for Antarctic microplastic exposure in aquatic food webs.
In situ microplastics ingestion by Antarctic marine benthic invertebrates
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Researchers documented in-situ microplastic ingestion by benthic invertebrates in Antarctic waters, finding plastic particles in organisms living on the seafloor despite Antarctica's remoteness from major pollution sources. The results confirm that microplastic contamination has reached even the most isolated seafloor communities on Earth.
Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in water, sediment and brine shrimps in a remote salt lake on the Tibetan Plateau, China
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Microplastics were found in the water, sediment, and brine shrimp of a remote salt lake on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth. Over 93% of the particles were tiny fragments under 0.5 mm, mostly polypropylene, carried to the lake by runoff. The finding demonstrates that microplastic pollution reaches even the most pristine environments, where salt layers in the water may actually increase how much plastic tiny organisms consume.
Quantifying microplastics concentration of invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords
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Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords created by retreating glaciers. They found microplastics present in organisms even in these remote polar environments, with contamination levels varying between species and locations. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth.
Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 15 species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic krill collected near the Antarctic Peninsula. They found microplastics in all species studied, with fish accumulating significantly more particles than krill, and fibers being the most common type. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.
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