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Microplastic Ingestion by Fish in a Neotropical Reservoir: Effects of Reservoir Dynamics and Fish Traits
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Researchers examined microplastic ingestion by fish communities across different zones of a Neotropical reservoir in Brazil, finding that fish in calmer, lake-like zones and bottom-dwelling insect-eating species were most likely to ingest plastic particles. The study suggests that both reservoir design and fish ecology shape how microplastics move through freshwater food webs.
Microplastic contamination poses a major threat in freshwaters, and rivers are considered sinks and pathways of plastic pollution to different ecosystems. Plastic abundance and concentration can be influenced by spatial factors, and artificial water bodies such as reservoirs can alter how plastics are distributed and interact with the biota. Additionally, biological traits like the trophic guilds and habitat use of animals can be important variables affecting plastic uptake. In this study, we investigated microplastic contamination in a fish community from a Neotropical reservoir. We assessed whether the distinct reservoir zones (fluvial, transitional, and lacustrine) had an influence on plastic ingestion by fish and also examined the effect of biological characteristics such as trophic guild and habitat use. Fibers and fragments of plastics were found in nine fish species and were identified as polyamide, polystyrene, and polyethylene. In general, plastic ingestion had a low incidence when compared to other reservoirs; however, we found that fish from the lacustrine zone, insectivores, and benthopelagic species showed a significant correlation with plastic ingestion. The findings presented here provide insights into the causes and the current state of microplastic pollution in Neotropical reservoirs.
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Researchers found that fish in urbanized streams in southern Brazil were significantly more likely to have ingested microplastic fibers than fish in non-urbanized streams, and that omnivorous species faced the highest exposure risk. This highlights how urban development drives microplastic contamination into freshwater food chains long before particles reach the ocean.
Microplastics in Freshwater Environments: Sources, Behaviour, and Ecotoxicity
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Researchers reviewed sources, transport behavior, and ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, finding that rivers and lakes are both pathways and sinks for plastic particles and that biological effects on freshwater organisms remain poorly characterized compared to marine systems.
Evaluation of Microplastic Pollution in Gills of Freshwater Fish in a Neotropical Hydrographic Basin, Brazil
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Analysis of gill tissue from 98 freshwater fish across eight species in Brazil's Sorocaba River basin found microplastics in every individual, with fibers comprising 74% of the 385 particles detected and highest contamination in the most disturbed river. The universal gill contamination across species demonstrates that freshwater fish in human-impacted watersheds serve as a direct route for microplastic entry into aquatic food webs and ultimately human diets.
Biochemical responses and ingestion of microplastics by native fishes in the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil
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Researchers assessed fish health along a contamination gradient in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and found that microplastic accumulation was highest in carnivorous fish at impacted midstream sites, while biochemical stress markers were elevated even in upstream areas considered relatively pristine, underscoring the need for ongoing biomonitoring.
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.