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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Exploring microplastic contamination in reef-associated fishes of the Tropical Atlantic

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2023 5 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Natascha Schmidt Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Véronique Lenoble, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Vincent Fauvelle, Vincent Fauvelle, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Latifa Pelage, Anne K.S. Justino, Anne K.S. Justino, Véronique Lenoble, Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Natascha Schmidt Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Natascha Schmidt Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Natascha Schmidt Véronique Lenoble, Véronique Lenoble, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Véronique Lenoble, Véronique Lenoble, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt Anne K.S. Justino, Vincent Fauvelle, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Vincent Fauvelle, Vincent Fauvelle, Anne K.S. Justino, Véronique Lenoble, Natascha Schmidt Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Véronique Lenoble, Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt Vincent Fauvelle, Latifa Pelage, Latifa Pelage, Véronique Lenoble, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Vincent Fauvelle, Vincent Fauvelle, Vincent Fauvelle, Anne K.S. Justino, Vincent Fauvelle, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Natascha Schmidt Guilherme V.B. Ferreira, Véronique Lenoble, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Véronique Lenoble, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Véronique Lenoble, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Véronique Lenoble, Véronique Lenoble, Véronique Lenoble, Véronique Lenoble, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Flávia Lucena‐Frédou, Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt Natascha Schmidt

Summary

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in four coastal reef-associated fish species from the southwestern Tropical Atlantic using alkaline tissue digestion and Laser Direct Infrared polymer identification. All four species contained microplastics, with Alphestes afer most contaminated (80% frequency of occurrence); fibres and films were predominant morphologies and polyethylene was the most abundant polymer.

Polymers
Body Systems

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine compartments, and their transboundary distribution favours the dispersion and accumulation of particles in ecosystems. This study investigated MP contamination in four coastal fish species (Haemulon squamipinna, Chaetodon ocellatus, Syacium micrurum, and Alphestes afer) from the southwestern Tropical Atlantic. An alkaline treatment was applied to extract MPs from the digestive tracts, and a Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) system was used to identify polymers. All species analysed were contaminated with MPs, with Alphestes afer being the most contaminated (1.45 ± 1.09 MPs individual; frequency of occurrence 80 %). No significant differences were found in the number and size of detected particles among species. The most common shapes were fibres and films, and polyethylene was the most abundant polymer. This study provides important baseline data on MP contamination in coastal fish species inhabiting complex habitat areas relevant for conserving marine biodiversity.

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