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Microplastic burden in invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) increases along a stream urbanization gradient
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Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of invasive signal crayfish at every site along a stream gradient from rural to urban, with concentrations rising as more of the upstream area was developed — and detected microplastics in crayfish tail muscle tissue for the first time. Because crayfish are important prey for many species, their accumulation of microplastics in both gut and tissue suggests these pollutants can move through freshwater food chains more broadly than previously recognized.
Microplastics are a globally pervasive pollutant with the potential to directly impact species and accumulate in ecosystems. However, there remains a relative paucity of research addressing their accumulation in freshwater ecosystems and a near absence of work in crayfish, despite their high ecological and economic importance. This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the invasive signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus along a stream urbanization gradient. The results demonstrate a ubiquitous presence of microplastics in crayfish digestive tracts at all sites and provide the first evidence of microplastic accumulation in tail tissue. Evidence of a positive linear trend was demonstrated between microplastic concentration in crayfish and upstream urban area size in generalized linear models. Evidence for a positive effect of the upstream urban area and a negative effect of crayfish length on microplastic concentrations in crayfish was demonstrated in multiple generalized linear regression models. Our results extend the current understanding of microplastics presence in freshwater ecosystems and demonstrate their presence in crayfish in the wild for the first time.
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Microplastic Presence and Frequency in Crayfish within Urban and Rural Streams
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Researchers compared the presence and frequency of microplastics found in crayfish living in urban versus rural streams, aiming to understand how human development influences microplastic ingestion in freshwater animals. Crayfish serve as useful environmental indicators because they feed at the bottom of streams where microplastics tend to settle.
Plastic Debris in the Stomach of the Invasive Signal Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus from a Baltic Coastal River
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Researchers examined the stomach contents of invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) for plastic debris, finding ingested plastic fragments and fibres in a proportion of sampled individuals. The study identifies signal crayfish as accumulators of microplastics in freshwater food webs, with potential implications for predators that consume crayfish in affected river systems.
Microplastic burden in native (Cambarus appalachiensis) and non-native (Faxonius cristavarius) crayfish along semi-rural and urban streams in southwest Virginia, USA
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Researchers conducted the first comparative study of microplastic contamination in native and non-native crayfish species along semi-rural and urban streams in southwest Virginia. They found significantly higher microplastic concentrations in urban surface water compared to semi-rural areas, and the non-native crayfish species showed greater microplastic body burden than the native species. The findings suggest that urbanization influences microplastic exposure in freshwater organisms and that invasive species may accumulate plastics differently than native ones.
From Core to Front: Microplastic Loads Along a Signal Crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus ) Invasion Gradient
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Even remote, protected mountain rivers in Portugal aren't safe from plastic pollution—researchers found microplastics (mostly tiny fibers from things like plastic bottles and packaging) in the guts of invasive crayfish, with the highest amounts at the invasion's leading edge. This matters because it shows plastic contamination is working its way into wildlife even in pristine-seeming environments, and since these crayfish are eaten by other animals (and sometimes humans), the plastic particles they ingest could move up the food chain.
The effect of urban point source contamination on microplastic levels in water and organisms in a cold‐water stream
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Microplastic concentrations in water, macroinvertebrates, and trout in a Wisconsin stream increased significantly downstream of stormwater outfalls and a wastewater plant. The study demonstrates that point sources of pollution drive measurable increases in microplastic contamination in freshwater food webs.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.