We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Barnacles as silent sentinels of microplastic pollution: Evidence from Gujarat coast, India and a global meta-analysis of sessile marine species
Summary
This study found microplastics in all eight barnacle species sampled across 13 coastal sites in Gujarat, India, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene predominating. A global meta-analysis confirmed that sessile marine organisms like barnacles serve as reliable bioindicators of local microplastic contamination levels.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent marine pollutants that accumulate in aquatic life and harm ecosystems. This research investigates the suitability of barnacle species as bioindicators of microplastic pollution along coastal regions of Gujarat state, India. Specimens of 8 barnacle species were collected from 13 different sampling sites of Gujarat state, along with sediment and water samples. A total of 484, 491 and 725 MPs were extracted from barnacle, water, and sediment, respectively, with the highest abundance recorded at Shivrajpur. MPs pollution was observed highest in Chthamalus barnesi while lowest in Megabalanus tintinnabulum. MPs abundance varied significantly between study sites and species of barnacles. Fibers was found predominantly with blue, and 1-2 mm sized MPs pollution showed in all metrices. ATR-FTIR identified 7 polymers, mainly polypropylene and polyethylene. Pollution indices revealed severe microplastic pollution at multiple coastal sites. In the global meta-analysis, a total of 80 articles related to MP pollution in sessile organisms published from 2013 to 2024 were used. In different sessile organisms, the sponge Crella affinis showed highest pollution, while the bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis showed lowest pollution. Fiber was the most dominant shape, with 0.5-1 mm sizes and blue, red, and black colours, with polyethylene (PE) as the most common polymer. The MP abundance in barnacles, water and sediment varied according to the anthropogenic activities being carried out at different study sites. Therefore, barnacles serve as excellent bioindicators of microplastic pollution in the coastal areas of Gujarat state, India.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Barnacles as potential bioindicator of microplastic pollution in Hong Kong
Researchers examined microplastic occurrence in four barnacle species collected from 30 sites across Hong Kong waters, finding microplastics — predominantly fibers — in all species and proposing barnacles as potential bioindicators of coastal microplastic pollution.
Barnacles as emerging sentinels of microplastic contamination: A global synthesis and analytical framing
Barnacles — the small crustaceans that encrust ship hulls and rocky shores — filter seawater continuously, making them promising sentinels for detecting microplastic pollution levels in the ocean. This global review of 14 field studies across seven countries found that barnacles consistently reflect local microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and cellophane being most common. While barnacles show real potential as low-cost monitoring organisms, the authors call for standardized methods to make data from different regions and studies comparable.
Barnacle analysis as a microplastic pollution bioindicator on the East Coast of Surabaya
A total of 196 microplastic particles were found in barnacles, water, and sediment on the east coast of Surabaya, with barnacles dominated by very small fragments in the 1-10 micron range. Amphibalanus amphitrite was identified as a potential bioindicator species for microplastic monitoring in coastal environments.
DNA barcoding of intertidal barnacles as potential bioindicators of microplastic pollution in Seribu Islands and Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
Researchers used DNA barcoding to identify barnacle species at Indonesian coastal sites and assessed their potential as bioindicators of microplastic pollution. The barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite accumulated the highest microplastic concentrations (up to 53 particles per gram), making it a strong candidate for monitoring contamination due to its wide distribution and easy identification. This matters because reliable biological sentinels can simplify large-scale tracking of microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystems.
Effects of microplastics on sessile invertebrates in the eastern coast of Thailand: An approach to coastal zone conservation
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in three abundant intertidal invertebrate species along Thailand's eastern coast, including rock oysters, barnacles, and periwinkles. They found microplastic accumulation rates of 0.2 to 0.6 particles per gram across all species, with filter-feeding organisms showing higher accumulation. The study suggests that sessile intertidal organisms can serve as effective bioindicators for monitoring coastal microplastic pollution levels.