We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Feeding behavior responses of a juvenile hybrid grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂, to microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Juvenile hybrid grouper fish were observed rejecting most microplastics after tasting them, with fewer than 6% of exposure events resulting in actual ingestion. The behavioral study shows that fish can partially discriminate between microplastics and food, but that some particles are nonetheless consumed.
In recent decades, microplastic (MP) pollution has become a severe problem in aquatic environments. Yet the behavioral and selective responses of fish toward different types of MPs remain unclear. We therefore conducted laboratory-based video observations to investigate the behavioral responses of hybrid grouper juveniles (tiger grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × giant grouper E. lanceolatus♂) to eight different types of MPs. We observed four distinct feeding behaviors: (i) normal ingestion of MPs, which rarely occurred (0%-6%); (ii) pursuit, capture, and tasting of MPs, after which MPs were quickly spat out; (iii) detection and rejection of MPs without attack; and (iv) no significant response to MPs. Our results indicate that juveniles can distinguish MPs as inedible particle and behave differently between MPs with different sizes, colors, and materials, primarily using visual and gustatory senses. Notably, 50%-90% of MP rejection events occurred before capture. Juveniles spent double the time evaluating large nylon particles than they did evaluating large polyvinyl chloride particles before capture, but half the time tasting after capture. Although we observed no sub-lethal or lethal effects of MPs, we conclude that the presence of MPs can still have an impact on groupers in aquaculture. For instance, in the densely stocked conditions of an aquaculture unit, the fish could lose visibility and can inadvertently ingest MPs, thus suffering from their toxic impacts.
More Papers Like This
Zebrafish can recognize microplastics as inedible materials: Quantitative evidence of ingestion behavior
AI summary Read the abstract
Zebrafish were exposed to polyethylene microplastics alongside food particles at various ratios, with results showing that fish recognized MPs as inedible—exhibiting spitting behavior and spending more time on prey capture—but ingested some particles incidentally when food was present. The study provides quantitative evidence that small freshwater fish have limited but real ability to discriminate plastic from food, and that co-ingestion with food is the dominant intake route.
Hudson River juvenile Blueback herring avoid ingesting microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that juvenile Blueback herring in the Hudson River actively avoided ingesting microplastics in laboratory feeding trials, suggesting these fish can selectively discriminate between microplastics and prey items such as zooplankton.
Unpalatable Plastic: Efficient Taste Discrimination of Microplastics in Planktonic Copepods
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used video observations and bottle incubations to study copepod behavioral responses to microplastics, finding that copepods rejected about 80% of microplastics after touching them with their mouthparts regardless of polymer type, shape, biofilm presence, or sorbed pollutant. The high rejection rate suggests that post-capture taste discrimination substantially reduces microplastic ingestion risk for feeding-current copepods under realistic ocean conditions.
Assessing microplastic uptake and impact on omnivorous juvenile white seabream Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) under laboratory conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Juvenile white seabream exposed to microplastics at realistic environmental concentrations preferred biofilm-coated particles over pristine ones, suggesting fish may actively select microplastics that smell like food. However, fish could still distinguish microplastics from real prey, indicating some capacity to avoid ingestion.
Effects of microplastics on juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps): Confusion with prey, reduction of the predatory performance and efficiency, and possible influence of developmental conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether juvenile common goby fish ingest microplastics and whether their presence affects predatory performance. The study found that fish confused microplastics with prey, and that microplastic presence reduced predatory efficiency, with developmental conditions in different estuaries also influencing the fish's ability to distinguish between food and plastic particles.
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.