We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Characterisation of microplastics in an isolated mangrove island using multiple ecosystem components including brachyuran crabs
Summary
Researchers conducted a holistic survey of microplastics across multiple ecosystem components of an isolated mangrove island on the southwest coast of India -- including water, sediment, leaves, stilt roots, fallen leaves, and three brachyuran crab species -- finding MPs in water at 5.42 particles/L, sediment at 400 particles/kg, and in crab gastrointestinal tracts, with fibers dominating all components.
Abstract Mangroves serving as interfaces between land and sea, function as significant filtration and interception systems for environmental microplastics (MPs). The structural complexity of mangrove roots enhances their trapping potential, making them prospective sinks for plastics. MPs have a strong affinity for mangrove leaves due to their lipophilic surface, temporarily accumulating MPs from both air and water. Brachyuran crabs, the core processors of mangrove litter can ingest MPs bound to leaves, potentially transferring them through the food chain to apex predators. Currently, studies from isolated mangrove islands are lacking. So, we conducted a holistic study examining MPs within multiple ecosystem components of an isolated mangrove island including water, sediment, leaves, stilt root and fallen leaves of mangrove as well as body parts of three species of mangrove crabs along southwest coast of India. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was carried out to confirm the suspected MPs in root and leaf. MPs were detected in water, sediment, fallen leaves and crabs. Abundance of MPs in water and sediment was 5.42 ± 0.2 particles/L and 400 ± 86 particles/Kg respectively, with the size range > 350 µ. Fallen leaves showed an abundance of 0.062 ± 0.054 particles/cm2. A higher abundance of MPs was observed in the gastro-intestinal tract of mangrove crabs. Fibre was the dominant morphotype in all components, revealing trophic transfer from water and sediment to crabs via fallen leaves and direct ingestion. The findings indicate that even isolated mangrove islands serve as repositories for MPs, affecting the mangrove food chain.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters, sediments, and wild crabs of mangrove ecosystems of East Java, Indonesia
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across ten mangrove ecosystems in East Java, Indonesia, finding microplastics in surface water, sediment, and wild crabs — with each crab containing an average of 48 plastic particles in its gills and digestive tract, more than 60% of which were fibers. The strong correlation between sediment contamination and microplastics found inside the crabs points to a pathway through which plastics enter the marine food web.
Microplastic occurrence in finfish and shellfish from the mangroves of the northern Gulf of Oman
This study assessed microplastic pollution in finfish and shellfish from mangrove habitats in the northern Gulf of Oman, finding the highest prevalence in crabs, with fragments and fibers as the dominant particle types, confirming microplastic contamination in ecologically important coastal ecosystems.
Occurrenceand characteristics of microplastics in benthic species from mangrove wetlands of Hainan, South China
Researchers found microplastics in 10 species of benthic organisms — including crabs, bivalves, and snails — across seven mangrove areas in Hainan, China, confirming that mangrove ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them are significantly contaminated by microplastic pollution.
Microplastics in Scylla Serrata: A baseline study from southwest India
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.
The Mud Crab Buffet: Microplastics pollution in Scylla Serrata from Kota Mangroves
Researchers recovered 264 microplastic particles from the guts of mud crabs (Scylla serrata) collected from mangroves in Karnataka, India, averaging about 29 particles per crab, with polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and polyester being the dominant plastics. A hazard index assessment rated the microplastic contamination as a severe risk to the crabs, underscoring the threat to mangrove ecosystems and the seafood that humans consume from them.