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One is not enough: Monitoring microplastic ingestion by fish needs a multispecies approach
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Researchers found that monitoring microplastic ingestion by fish requires a multispecies approach, as different feeding guilds — benthic, demersal, and pelagic — accumulate microplastics at varying rates and sizes, making any single-species indicator insufficient for assessing marine contamination.
The development of monitoring programs based on bioindicators is crucial for assessing the impact of microplastic ingestion on marine organisms. This study presents results from an Italian pilot action aimed at investigating the suitability of a monitoring strategy based on a multispecies approach. The benthic-feeder Mullus barbatus, the demersal species Merluccius merluccius, and the pelagic-feeder species of the genus Scomber were used to assess the environmental contamination by microplastics in three different marine areas, namely Ancona (Adriatic Sea), Anzio (Tyrrhenian Sea), and Oristano (Western Sardinia). Microplastic ingestion frequencies were higher in samples from Anzio (26.7 %) and Ancona (25.0 %) than Oristano (14.4 %), suggesting a relationship between microplastic bioavailability and the proximity to urban settlements and river flows. Furthermore, microplastic ingestion was affected by the feeding habits of the examined species. The detected differences reinforce the hypothesis that a multispecies approach is needed to evaluate microplastic ingestion by marine animals.
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Effect of biological and environmental factors on microplastic ingestion of commercial fish species
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Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species, evaluating how biological and environmental factors influence ingestion rates across 2,222 individual fish. The study assessed gastrointestinal tract contents to determine the extent and patterns of microplastic contamination. The findings suggest that both species-specific biology and environmental conditions play important roles in determining microplastic ingestion levels in commercial fish.
Differences in microplastic abundances within demersal communities highlight the importance of an ecosystem-based approach to microplastic monitoring
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This study found significant differences in microplastic abundance among different demersal (bottom-dwelling) fish communities, suggesting that habitat, feeding behavior, and species-specific traits influence how much plastic marine fish ingest. The findings underscore the complexity of predicting microplastic exposure across marine food webs.
Assessing the bioaccumulation of microplastics in commercially important fish species
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Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species from coastal and offshore waters, finding significant differences between species based on feeding strategies and habitat depth. Filter feeders and omnivorous species accumulated more microplastics than others, reflecting diet-based differences across trophic levels. The study raises concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through widely consumed seafood products.
Plastic intake does not depend on fish eating habits: Identification of microplastics in the stomach contents of fish on an urban beach in Brazil
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Researchers analyzed microplastic content in the stomachs of seven fish species from an urban beach in Brazil and found that trophic guild (carnivore, omnivore, herbivore) did not predict microplastic ingestion rates, suggesting that incidental ingestion during feeding is widespread regardless of diet type.
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.