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Survey of microplastics in a freshwater and saltwater ecosystem
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Researchers compared microplastic abundance in freshwater samples from Salish Creek and seawater samples from Jericho Beach in Vancouver, Canada, to assess plastic contamination across habitats used by migrating Pacific salmon. Using plankton nets and Proteinase-K digestion, they found microplastics at both sites and compared concentrations between the two habitats. The study provides baseline data on microplastic exposure in environments encountered by salmon along their migration route.
The objective of our study was to quantify the abundance of microplastics across a salmon migration gradient, using a freshwater and seawater site as proxies for the habitats that salmon encounter along their migration route. Three 190L water samples were filtered using a plankton net at two different sites in the city of Vancouver: the mouth of Salish Creek, and the waters off Jericho Beach. Samples were treated using Proteinase-K digestion and microplastics were visually identified using Zeiss Axiostar compound microscopes and a microplastic identification key. An unpaired two-tailed t-test returned a t-value of 2.4010 and a p-value of 0.0743. Although the results are not statistically significant (p-value < 0.05), we did find a trend showing that the ocean samples contained a larger quantity of microplastic fragments. The presence of microplastic fragments in both the freshwater and ocean water samples is alarming since microplastics have been known to inflict negative effects on fish physiology and behaviour. This is especially alarming for the restoration of habitats for Pacific salmonids as microplastics in the freshwater streams may harm juveniles and returning spawners.
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The presence of microplastics in juvenile Chinook salmon and their nearshore environments
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This study documented microplastic ingestion in juvenile Chinook salmon and their forage fish in the Salish Sea, finding plastic particles across multiple species and providing early evidence of microplastic contamination entering Pacific salmon food webs. The findings highlight the potential for microplastics to affect commercially and ecologically important fish species.
Influence of marine habitat on microplastic prevalence in forage fish and salmon in the Salish Sea
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Scientists examined microplastic ingestion in forage fish and juvenile salmon across different marine habitats in the Salish Sea of the Pacific Northwest. They found that fish from nearshore urban areas had more microplastics in their stomachs than those from offshore or less developed areas. The results suggest that habitat type and proximity to human activity are important predictors of microplastic exposure in marine food webs.
Microplastics in juvenile Chinook salmon and their nearshore environments on the east coast of Vancouver Island
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Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion in juvenile Chinook salmon and their nearshore marine environments on the east coast of Vancouver Island, finding microplastics present in both fish digestive tracts and surrounding waters and characterizing the types of particles consumed.
Presence of microplastics in Salish Sea Nearshore sediments
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A survey of Salish Sea nearshore sediments found microplastics present across multiple sites, with this study also evaluating and improving methods for quantifying microplastics in marine sediment samples. The work contributes baseline contamination data for this ecologically important inland sea shared by the US and Canada.
Microplastics in Nearshore and Subtidal Sediments in the Salish Sea: Implications for Marine Habitats and Exposure
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Researchers surveyed microplastic concentrations in nearshore and subtidal sediments across the Salish Sea, focusing on spawning habitats for forage fish species. They found microplastics at every sampling site, with microfibers being most abundant and significantly higher concentrations near urban areas in Puget Sound compared to the San Juan Islands. The findings indicate that forage fish and their eggs are likely exposed to microplastics in their critical nearshore habitats, with potential implications for the broader marine food web.
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.