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Fiddler crabs (Tubuca arcuata) as bioindicators of microplastic pollution in mangrove sediments
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Researchers used fiddler crabs as bioindicators of microplastic pollution in mangrove sediments, finding that crab tissue microplastic loads correlated with sediment contamination levels and reflected spatial differences in pollution across mangrove sites.
In recent years, microplastics (MPs) have been widely found in the environment and pose potential risks to ecosystems, which attracted people's attention. Using bioindicators has been a great approach to understanding the pollution levels, bioavailability, and ecological risks of pollutants. However, only few studies have investigated MPs in mangrove ecosystems, with few bioindicators of MPs. Herein, the distribution of MPs in mangrove sediments and fiddler crabs (Tubuca arcuata) in mangroves was investigated. Results showed that the abundance values of MPs are 1160‒12,120 items/kg and 11-100 items/ind. in mangrove sediments and fiddler crabs, respectively. The dominant shape of MPs detected in mangrove sediments and fiddler crabs was fragments with sizes of 20‒1000 μm, larger MPs of 50-1000 μm were found in abundance. Polypropylene (PP), which is one of the most commonly used plastic materials, was the main polymer type. The distribution of MPs in fiddler crabs closely resembled that in surface mangrove sediments with a strong linear correlation (R > 0.8 and p < 0.05) between their abundance. Therefore, the MP contamination level in mangrove sediments can be determined by studying MP pollution in fiddler crabs. Moreover, the results of the target group index (TGI) indicated that fiddler crabs prefer feeding specific MPs in mangrove sediments. Our findings demonstrate the suitability of fiddler crabs as bioindicators for assessing MP pollution in mangrove sediments.
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This study assessed microplastic presence in fiddler crabs and sediments from coastal environments, where plastic accumulation can disrupt the fauna that depends on these habitats. Microplastics were found in both the crabs and surrounding sediments, indicating contamination throughout the coastal food web.
Assessing the presence of microplastics in fiddler crabs (Afruca tangeri) and sediments of the salt marshes of Cadiz Bay (Spain).
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