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Suspected anthropogenic microparticle ingestion by Icelandic capelin
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A study found that Icelandic capelin fish had ingested anthropogenic microparticles including microplastics, establishing a baseline for plastic pollution in this ecologically important Arctic species. Capelin are a key forage fish in Arctic food webs, so microplastic ingestion at this level could have cascading effects on larger predators including seabirds, marine mammals, and humans who eat fish.
Documented ingestion of microplastics and other anthropogenic microparticles (AMP) by marine fishes has increased over the last decade. However, baseline datasets on AMP ingestion in Arctic fish species are limited. This study documents AMP ingestion in Icelandic capelin (Mallotus villosus) and investigates how this relates to several biological variables. A total of 160 capelin gastrointestinal tracts were sampled and digested using 10 % potassium hydroxide and visual inspection protocols. A total frequency of occurrence (%FO) of 52.5 % and a mean AMP abundance of 1.33 ± 2.37 per individual was found (particles > 45 μm). The colour of AMP detected was significantly different between sampling locations. However, no differences in %FO or mean AMP abundance were detected between sampling locations or related to body size, gut fullness, or sex. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AMP ingestion by Arctic marine species.
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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.