We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ingestion of microplastics and microfibers by the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) in the Balearic Islands, Spain
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the stomach contents of 120 invasive blue crabs collected from the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and found that nearly 66% contained microplastics or microfibers. The most common particles were fibers, with an average of 1.4 particles per individual. The study highlights the widespread ingestion of microplastics by this invasive species and raises concerns about contaminant transfer through marine food webs.
The blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 is native to the western coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and is currently considered an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we examined the stomach contents of C. sapidus to determine the frequency of occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) in the Balearic Islands archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea. A total of 120 individuals were collected from six locations between 2017 and 2020. Overall, 65.8% of the individuals had MPs and/or MFs particles with an average of 1.4 ± 1.6 particles ind. of which an average of 1.0 ± 1.3 items ind. were MFs and an average of 0.4 ± 0.8 items ind. were MPs. In terms of type, fragments were the dominant type of MPs and the most common size of items ranged from between 0.5 and 1 mm (40%) followed by 1-5 mm (31%). The most prevalent polymers were low-density polyethylene (39%) and high-density polyethylene (26%). In terms of links to human activities, MP ingestion was positively correlated with an increase in drain pipes, whereas MF ingestion was positively correlated with an increase in sewage pipelines, providing evidence of potential sources and the bioavailability of these particles in various environments. This study confirms the widespread presence of MP and MF particles, even in areas that are currently managed under different protection statuses, in the stomach contents of invasive blue crab species throughout coastal communities.
More Papers Like This
Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896): Microplastic pollution indicator in invaded Mediterranean coastal ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used the invasive Atlantic blue crab as a microplastic sentinel in a Mediterranean lagoon, finding an average of 17 MPs per individual — dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene fragments in the 100–299 µm range — with the hepatopancreas accumulating the highest concentrations compared to muscle and gills.
Litter in alien species of possible commercial interest: The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) as case study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) from an Italian lagoon and detected plastic fragments and synthetic fibers including polyethylene and PET in stomach contents, with microplastic fibers such as nylon and polyester also found in female gonad tissue, suggesting this invasive species can serve as a pollution indicator.
Presence of Microplastics in Cronius Ruber Species
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic content in the stomach contents of Cronius ruber, an invasive crab species in Mediterranean waters, finding plastic particles — primarily fibers — in the animals. The presence of microplastics in invasive crab species adds to the evidence that plastic ingestion is widespread across marine crustaceans in contaminated coastal waters.
Callinectes sapidus - coast to coast: Integrating stable isotope analysis and shotgun metagenomics to unravel trophic dynamics and microlitter ingestion across two Mediterranean sites.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined stable isotope analysis and shotgun metagenomics to compare microlitter ingestion and trophic ecology of invasive blue crabs from the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas, finding that 39–50% of individuals had ingested microlitter with fibers dominating, while isotopic and metagenomic data revealed regionally distinct feeding strategies and diets that likely shape differential exposure to synthetic versus cellulose-based particles.
On the diet of the invasive crab Charybdis longicollis Leene, 1938 (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists documented the diet of an invasive Mediterranean crab and found microplastics in a quarter of the individuals examined, indicating these crustaceans inadvertently ingest plastic while foraging on the seafloor. The study contributes to understanding both the ecological role of this invasive species and the spread of microplastic contamination through benthic food webs.
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.