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Composition and distribution of hyporheic and macrobenthic fauna in a Neotropical mountain river, Colombia
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This Colombian study characterized the invertebrate communities living in both the surface and underground water zones of a tropical mountain stream. While not directly about microplastics, understanding baseline biodiversity in freshwater systems is important for detecting ecological harm from plastic contamination.
This study examined the composition and diversity of the invertebrate communities that inhabit the hyporheic zone (HZ) in the upper and lower basins of the Dagua River, a tropical mountain stream, and their relationship with the macrobenthic fauna. In the HZ, different taxa were collected, many of which have been reported in several regions worldwide, suggesting that the biodiversity of the hyporheic community in Colombian rivers may be high. Although the hyporheic and macrobenthic fauna shared a moderate percentage (> 50 %) of taxa, their ecological structures were different. The analysis of hyporheic filtrate water showed the presence of microplastic (MP) fibers as well as fauna, a condition that, based on the literature review, could represent a risk for the normal functioning of this river ecosystem.
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First Assessment of Microplastics and Invertebrate Fauna in the Hyporheic Zone of the Large Paraná River (Argentina)
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastics and invertebrate fauna in the hyporheic sediments of the Paraná River, Argentina, recording nine invertebrate species for the first time in this zone alongside microplastic contamination data.
Impacto De Los Microplásticos En Macroinvertebrados De Ecosistemas Dulceacuícolas En Colombia: Una Revisión De Literatura De La Última Década
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This review compiled 10 years of scientific literature on microplastic impacts on freshwater macroinvertebrates in Colombia, finding that despite the environmental importance of these organisms, MP research in Colombian freshwater systems is scarce compared to marine studies. The review called for expanded monitoring and experimental research on MP effects in Colombian rivers and lakes.
A depth-resolved snapshot of microplastic abundances in riffle heads in a gravelbed river
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Researchers took depth-resolved samples from gravel riverbed sediments to map how microplastics distribute vertically through streambeds. They found significant quantities at depth, suggesting that riverbeds act as long-term reservoirs of microplastic pollution rather than just transient transport pathways.
Microplastic abundance and composition along an anthropogenic pressure gradient in an Andean river (Colombia)
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance across an altitudinal gradient in a Colombian Andean river, finding highest concentrations in downstream urban and agricultural zones, with fibers and polypropylene dominating across water, sediment, and fish samples—the first report of microplastics in freshwater fish from the Tolima region.
(Micro-)Plastics in Saturated and Unsaturated Groundwater Bodies: First Evidence of Presence in Groundwater Fauna and Habitats
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in three Italian groundwater systems, including karst caves and an alluvial aquifer, providing early evidence that microplastics are present in underground water habitats. The study also found that groundwater-dwelling invertebrates had ingested microplastic particles, raising concerns about pollution impacts on these fragile and largely unstudied ecosystems.
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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.