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Variation in microplastic characteristics among amphibian larvae: a comparative study across different species and the influence of human activity
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Scientists examined microplastics inside amphibian larvae from 10 species and found plastic particles in all of them, with blue fibers being the most common type. Larger larvae tended to contain longer plastic fragments, and there was a relationship between human activity levels near habitats and the characteristics of the plastics found. This study shows that microplastic contamination has penetrated freshwater food webs, affecting animals during their most vulnerable developmental stages.
Microplastic pollution is a significant global environmental issue, and impacts span from individual organisms to the entire ecosystems. This study investigated the properties of microplastics in amphibian larvae, shedding light on their environmental interactions and potential ecological consequences. We examined microplastics extracted from amphibian larvae of 10 taxa, sampled from sites experiencing different levels of human impact. Our findings revealed a predominance of blue microplastics and fibres, each comprising 53% of the total microplastics in amphibian larvae. Microplastic fibres were also notably longer than other morphological types of microplastics. Furthermore, we observed variations in the surface area of microplastics among different amphibian families. An interesting observation from our research is the apparent positive relationship between the size of amphibian larvae and the length of granular and flake-shaped microplastics. Conversely, we observed a negative relationship between the length of these microplastics and human environmental impact. These insights significantly contribute to the understanding of microplastic pollution in freshwater environments, highlighting its complexities beyond marine ecosystems. Our research emphasises the intricate relationships between microplastics and freshwater organisms, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution.
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Similarity of Microplastic Characteristics between Amphibian Larvae and Their Aquatic Environment
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Researchers compared microplastic characteristics in amphibian larvae with those in their surrounding aquatic environment, finding similarities in size distribution and polymer types that confirm direct ingestion from water, providing a new bioindicator approach for freshwater microplastic monitoring.
Microplastics as an emerging threat to amphibians: Current status and future perspectives
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This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in amphibians like frogs and salamanders, finding that over 80% of studied species had accumulated microplastics. The particles persisted in organs, showed toxic and gene-damaging effects, and could transfer through the food chain. Since amphibians are indicators of environmental health, widespread microplastic accumulation in these animals signals broader ecosystem contamination that can ultimately affect human food and water sources.
Microplastic ingestion by tadpoles of pond-breeding amphibians—first results from Central Europe (SW Poland)
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This study found microplastics in the guts of tadpoles from five amphibian species collected from eight ponds in southwestern Poland, identifying polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymer types. The detection of microplastics in freshwater amphibian larvae in Central European ponds confirms that plastic pollution has reached small, inland water bodies and is affecting early developmental stages of amphibians.
Microplastics pollution in larvae of toads, frogs and newts in anthropopressure gradient
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the larvae of toads, frogs, and newts across sites with varying levels of human activity in Poland. They found microplastics in larvae at all locations, with higher concentrations near urban and agricultural areas compared to natural habitats. The study raises concerns about how microplastic exposure during sensitive developmental stages may affect already-declining amphibian populations.
Distribution of microplastics in tadpoles, adults, and habitats of three water frogs of Pelophylax spp.
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Researchers examined microplastics in water frogs and their habitats across Turkey, finding that while tadpoles showed almost no microplastic ingestion, 44% of adult frogs had microplastics in their digestive tracts — mostly fibers from synthetic textiles. The findings highlight how microplastic contamination increases with life stage and proximity to human activity, threatening amphibian populations already under environmental stress.
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.