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Beadlet anemone: A novel bio-indicator of microplastic pollution in the marine environment
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This study proposes sea anemones as a new bioindicator species for monitoring microplastic pollution in marine environments, finding that anemones accumulate smaller microplastics (under 0.5 mm) and a wider diversity of polymer types than the surrounding water or sediment at the same locations. Six different polymer types were identified in anemones versus fewer in sediment and water, suggesting these sessile filter feeders efficiently concentrate microplastics from their immediate environment. Using sea anemones offers a relatively fast and reliable approach to characterizing microplastic contamination in coastal marine ecosystems.
Extensive usage of plastic in different industries and household usage has degraded to microplastic due to environmental conditions over the last year. While several researchers conducted the determination of microplastic (MP) bioaccumulation from rivers to stormwater, except for some filter-feeding species used as a bioindicator, to achieve a holistic approach to the fate of MPs in the marine system, sea anemone was used as an indicator. Microplastics were extracted from surface seawater, sediment, and sea anemones from the same sampling area and characterized. The extracted MPs were confirmed by confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy, and the morphology of the MPs was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the accumulation of microplastics and the type of polymer, shape, colour, and size of these persistent pollutants varied in sediment, surface water, and sea anemone. The abundance of MPs was different, and grey-coloured MPs were detected at a relatively higher level in sea anemones, from 8.7 to 13.3%, and more minor MPs (less than 0.5 mm) at 43.4-56.8% were detected in sea anemones among the sampling stations. In terms of polymer type, there are relatively more types of polymers classified in sea anemones among the sampling stations (six different types of polymers). These results indicated that the utilization of sea anemones as a bioindicator for MPs could be a critical factor in a better understanding of their pathway in the marine ecosystem. This study proved that analysing sea anemones as an indicator could offer a reliable, fast, and time-saving approach for detecting microplastic accumulation in marine systems.
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Phthalate levels in common sea anemone Actinia equina and Anemonia viridis: A proxy of short-term microplastic interaction?
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Researchers measured phthalate concentrations in two sea anemone species (Actinia equina and Anemonia viridis) as a proxy for short-term microplastic contamination in marine environments, where direct microplastic measurement can be challenging. The study evaluated whether anemones could serve as reliable bioindicators of local plastic pollution.
The sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum as a potential biomonitor for microplastics contamination on the Brazilian Amazon coast
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Researchers documented for the first time microplastic ingestion in the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum on the Brazilian Amazon coast, finding plastic particles in 75.6% of 90 individuals examined, with fibers comprising 84% of ingested items. Ingestion rates were significantly higher at more urbanized and populous sampling sites, suggesting the species as a potential biomonitor for coastal microplastic contamination.
Assessing anthropogenic pollution in an oriented nature reserve using Anemonia viridis as a bioindicator
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Researchers evaluated the Mediterranean snakelocks anemone Anemonia viridis as a bioindicator of coastal plastic pollution in a protected Italian nature reserve, detecting anthropogenic microparticles — predominantly fibres including PET and cellulose acetate — in nearly 90% of specimens, including surface-adhered and ingested particles, raising concern given this species is consumed in some local communities.
Experimental accumulation of microplastics in acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite and its use in estimating microplastic concentration in coastal waters
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Researchers assessed the potential of acorn barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite) as bioindicators for microplastic pollution, finding that these filter feeders accumulate polypropylene fibers and fragments in ways that could help estimate coastal water contamination levels.
Uptake of microplastics by the snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis) is commonplace across environmental conditions
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The snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis) was found to ingest microplastics under a range of environmental conditions in both laboratory and field settings, suggesting that uptake is a common occurrence rather than an exceptional event. The findings point to anthozoans like sea anemones and corals as consistently exposed to plastic particles in coastal waters.
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