We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Can the Atlantic ghost crab be a potential biomonitor of microplastic pollution of sandy beaches sediment?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the Atlantic ghost crab as a biomonitor for beach microplastic pollution, finding that the types of microplastics in crab gut contents closely mirrored those in beach sediment — confirming sediment as the main ingestion source — but that the crab's broad diet made it an unreliable indicator of overall contamination levels across beaches with different urbanization.
The objective of the present study was to test whether the Atlantic ghost crab Ocypode quadrata is a reliable biomonitor of microplastic (MP) pollution of beach sediments. To test the hypothesis (H1) that the sediment is the main source of MP ingestion, the proportion of MP types (hard plastic, microfibers, pellet, soft plastic, and extruded polystyrene foam) in the gut content was compared with that on the strandline. The types of MPs in the gut content and sediment had similar proportions; black (~49%) and blue (~45%) microfibers were responsible for this similarity (55%), hence confirming H1. However, the second hypothesis (H2) that prevalence of MP in the gut content is related to its density on beach with distinct urbanization degree was not accepted. These results indicate that high trophic plasticity of the ghost crab and, consequently, multiple-sources of contamination may interfere with its use as a biomonitor of MP pollution.
More Papers Like This
Multiple species ingest microplastic but few reflect sediment and water pollution on sandy beaches: A baseline for biomonitoring
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed 45 species on sandy beaches and found that while many animals ingest microplastics, only a small fraction of species ingested them in proportion to how polluted the surrounding water and sediment actually were. This means choosing the right "biomonitor" species matters enormously — most animals are poor proxies for actual pollution levels. The study provides a critical baseline for designing reliable coastal microplastic monitoring programs.
Ecological traits influence the bioaccumulation of microplastics in commercially important estuarine crabs from the southeastern Gulf of Mexico
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastic accumulation in two commercially important estuarine crab species in the Gulf of Mexico varied significantly based on ecological traits such as feeding behavior and habitat use, with gills and digestive tracts showing higher contamination than muscle tissue.
Can fiddler crab bioturbation activity in situ modify the distribution of microplastics in sediments and the influence on their bioaccumulation?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined fiddler crab (Minuca rapax) bioturbation in mangrove sediments of the southern Gulf of Mexico, finding that crab burrowing activity concentrated microplastics in burrow sediments and that the characteristics of microplastics ingested by the crabs reflected those found in burrows, with the degree of bioturbation-driven MP concentration varying with local urbanization levels.
Microplastic exposure and biological correlates in a key intertidal crab (Grapsus grapsus) from the Galápagos Islands
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified microplastics in the gills and gastrointestinal tracts of Sally Lightfoot crabs from the Galápagos Marine Reserve, finding particles in 78% of gill samples — higher loads and greater polymer diversity than gut tissue — and confirming that even this remote protected ecosystem is permeated by anthropogenic microdebris.
The Ecological Implication of Microplastic in Crabs from a Tropical Lagoon: Ingested Microplastic in Mud Crab Scylla serrata
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic ingestion by crabs from a tropical lagoon in West Africa, quantifying particles found in digestive tissues and assessing ecological implications for the local ecosystem. Widespread microplastic ingestion was documented across crab species and size classes.
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.