We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic from beach sediment to tissue: a case study on burrowing crab Dotilla blanfordi
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented microplastic transfer from beach sediment through feeding pellets to the body tissue of the burrowing crab Dotilla blanfordi along the Gujarat coast of India. Microplastic abundance was highest in crab tissue compared to surrounding sediment and feeding pellets, suggesting bioaccumulation through feeding behavior. The findings indicate that sediment-dwelling organisms can serve as indicators of microplastic contamination in coastal environments.
The abundance of MP was found higher in burrow sediment, feeding pellets and tissue of D. blanfordi at study site Mandvi, followed by Serena and Asharmata. The abundance of MP was found higher in D. blanfordi tissue, followed by burrow sediment and feeding pellet. A significant variation was observed in MP abundance among burrow sediment, feeding pellets, and tissue. MPs with various shapes (fiber, film, and fragment), sizes (1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 mm), and colors (blue, green, black, pink, purple, red transparent) were recorded from all the study sites. Polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride were recognized as the chemical profile of the extracted MPs. The current investigation revealed greater accumulation of MPs in D. blanfordi's tissues compared to sediment and pellets, suggesting a risk of MP contamination in marine benthic fauna with a greater rate of bioaccumulation. D. blanfordi plays a significant role as a structuring agent for MP distribution in the intertidal flat through burrowing activity.
More Papers Like This
Ingestion and translocation of microplastics in tissues of deposit-feeding crabs (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea) in Kochi estuary, Japan
AI summary Read the abstract
More than half of 116 intertidal crabs collected from a Japanese estuary contained microplastics, with PET fragments dominating and particles concentrated primarily in the gut. Smaller deposit-feeding crab species carried a higher microplastic burden relative to body weight than larger omnivorous species, showing that feeding behavior and body size both shape how much plastic wildlife accumulates in contaminated estuaries.
Swash zone sentinels: Unravelling microplastic pollution in selected beaches along the Southwest Coast of Peninsular India using the sand crab, Emerita emeritus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across six beaches in Kerala, India, by analyzing contamination in water, sediment, and sand crabs (Emerita emeritus). Polyethylene was the most prevalent polymer type, and electron microscopy revealed toxic elements including mercury and aluminum adsorbed onto microplastics extracted from the crabs' guts, indicating potential risks of bioaccumulation through the coastal food chain.
Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Sand Crab Scopimera globosa Behavior: Implications for Microplastic Transport and Sulfur Cycling through Bioturbation
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that microplastic exposure changed the burrowing behavior of sand crabs in estuaries, causing them to dig deeper and avoid contaminated surface sediments. This behavioral shift actually moved microplastics through sediment layers 27 times faster than without the crabs and disrupted important sulfur-cycling bacteria in the soil. The findings show how microplastics can indirectly affect coastal ecosystem processes by altering the behavior of the animals that maintain sediment health.
A comparative analysis of microplastic contamination in hermit crab Clibanarius rhabdodactylus Forest, 1953, inhabiting intertidal and subtidal Coastal habitat of Gujarat state
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared microplastic contamination in hermit crabs inhabiting intertidal versus subtidal zones in Gujarat, India, finding higher microplastic loads in intertidal crabs due to greater exposure to coastal plastic pollution sources.
Microplastics in Scylla Serrata: A baseline study from southwest India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the mud crab Scylla serrata from mangrove habitats on India's southwestern coast and found an average of about 29 microplastic particles per individual. Fibers were the dominant type, and polypropylene and polyethylene were the most common polymers detected. The study establishes a baseline for microplastic presence in a commercially important crab species, raising questions about potential human exposure through seafood consumption.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.