We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic and ichthyoplankton in the Ukrainian waters of the Black Sea
Summary
The first study of microplastics in the Northwestern Black Sea found plastic contamination at all sampled sites in both surface and near-surface water layers, with fibers making up 75% of particles and fish eggs present alongside them. The overlap of microplastics and ichthyoplankton (fish larvae and eggs) in the same water layer is concerning because developing fish may ingest or be coated by plastic particles during the most vulnerable stage of their lives.
The ability of planktonic and neustonic organisms to feed on microplastics and subsequently transfer it through the marine food web has been studied extensively. However, there are no studies on microplastic in the Northwestern Black Sea. The present study assesses the diversity and spatial distribution of microplastics and ichthyoplankton in two surface layers: 0–5 cm (neuston surface layer; NL) and 5–20 cm (hyponeuston layer; HL). The sampling was undertaken in June 2020 – October 2021 in the coastal (CW) and open (OW) waters of the Northwestern Black Sea. Microplastics was observed at all studied sites and was composed of fibres (75 %) and fragments (25 %). Black and red fibres were the most abundant type of fibre, and black particles dominated the fragments. Four types of polymers were identified by Raman spectroscopy: polyethylene, polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene. The concentration of microplastics near the coast significantly exceeded that of open waters; the average microplastics concentration in the CW reached 136±74 (±SE) and 46±30 particles.m -3 in the NL and HL, respectively, whereas it reached 18±3 and 2±0.8 particles.m -3 in the NL and HL of the OW, respectively. In the NL, ichthyoplankton was found only at 31 % of the sites, and at only 24 % of sites in the HL. In total, 6 species of fish were recorded. The most abundant species was the European anchovy, one of the main commercial species in the Black Sea. The ratio of microplastics to ichthyoplankton was 0.34 (or 1:2.87) for both layers, where ichthyoplankton was present. When considering all studied sites, the ratio of microplastics to ichthyoplankton was 1.07 (or 1:0.93). As ichthyoplankton is an ephemeral component of the neuston community, but microplastics is omnipresent, we may consider that comparable densities of microplastics:ichthyoplankton favour their interrelation, negative effect, and transport through the food web. • The ratio of microplastic to ichthyoplankton (1:0.93) was calculated for the first time in the Northwestern Black Sea. • Microplastics were found at all sites, and microplastic fibres were most abundant. • The most common size range of microplastics was 1.9-2.2 mm. • Eggs and larvae of six fish species were identified, of which European anchovy prevailed.