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Microplastic Presence and Frequency in Crayfish within Urban and Rural Streams
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Researchers compared the presence and frequency of microplastics found in crayfish living in urban versus rural streams, aiming to understand how human development influences microplastic ingestion in freshwater animals. Crayfish serve as useful environmental indicators because they feed at the bottom of streams where microplastics tend to settle.
Undergraduate Basic
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Microplastic burden in invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) increases along a stream urbanization gradient
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Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of invasive signal crayfish at every site along a stream gradient from rural to urban, with concentrations rising as more of the upstream area was developed — and detected microplastics in crayfish tail muscle tissue for the first time. Because crayfish are important prey for many species, their accumulation of microplastics in both gut and tissue suggests these pollutants can move through freshwater food chains more broadly than previously recognized.
Microplastic burden in native (Cambarus appalachiensis) and non-native (Faxonius cristavarius) crayfish along semi-rural and urban streams in southwest Virginia, USA
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Researchers conducted the first comparative study of microplastic contamination in native and non-native crayfish species along semi-rural and urban streams in southwest Virginia. They found significantly higher microplastic concentrations in urban surface water compared to semi-rural areas, and the non-native crayfish species showed greater microplastic body burden than the native species. The findings suggest that urbanization influences microplastic exposure in freshwater organisms and that invasive species may accumulate plastics differently than native ones.
Surveillance of Microplastic Pollution in Central Virginia Freshwater Ecosystems
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in crayfish from two streams in central Virginia, examining both digestive tracts and gill filaments. Microplastics were detected in crayfish from both sites, with fibers being the most common type. The study extends freshwater microplastic research to a commonly found and ecologically important benthic invertebrate in North American streams.
Spatial distribution and characterization of microplastics in crayfish from inland waters of Türkiye
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Researchers analyzed 200 crayfish from eight Turkish lakes and detected microplastics in 62% of individuals, with significant spatial variation linked to land use and wastewater inputs, and polyethylene and PET fibers and fragments predominating. Freshwater crayfish prove effective bioindicators for mapping microplastic pollution across inland water bodies, revealing how human activity patterns drive contamination of food species consumed by local communities.
Distinct microplastic patterns in the sediment and biota of an urban stream
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Researchers found distinct microplastic contamination patterns between sediments and aquatic biota in an urban stream, with sediments accumulating more particles while biota showed selective uptake based on particle size and shape, highlighting the complex dynamics of microplastic distribution in urban freshwater systems.
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