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Episodic records of jellyfish ingestion of plastic items reveal a novel pathway for trophic transference of marine litter
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Researchers documented for the first time that jellyfish ingest macroplastic debris, revealing a previously overlooked pathway by which plastic pollution travels up the marine food chain. This finding raises fresh concern about how widely plastic is spreading through ocean ecosystems via invertebrates, which make up the vast majority of marine life.
Invertebrates represent the most plentiful component of marine biodiversity. To date, only few species have been documented for marine litter intake. Here, we report for the first time the presence of macroplastic debris in a jellyfish species. Such novel target to plastic pollution highlights an under studied vector of marine litter along marine trophic web, raising further concern over the impact on marine wildlife.
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Sources, effects and trophic transfer of microplastics in jellyfish
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This review synthesizes available research on sources, effects, and trophic transfer of microplastics in jellyfish. Researchers found jellyfish readily ingest microplastics and could act as vectors transferring plastic particles up the food chain to predators.
Ingestion of polyethylene microspheres occur only in presence of prey in the jellyfish Aurelia aurita
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Researchers found that jellyfish only ingest polyethylene microspheres when prey is also present, suggesting that accidental microplastic ingestion by jellyfish depends on context rather than being constant. This finding has implications for understanding microplastic uptake pathways in marine food webs.
Microplastic ingestion in Pelagia noctiluca
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This study documented microplastic ingestion in jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) in the Mediterranean Sea, adding these gelatinous organisms to the growing list of marine species confirmed to consume plastic. Jellyfish are widely distributed and consumed by sea turtles and tuna, raising concerns about trophic transfer of microplastics up food chains.
The abundance of microplastics in cnidaria and ctenophora in the North Sea
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Researchers found microplastics in cnidarians and ctenophores collected from the North Sea, including jellyfish species and comb jellies, demonstrating that these gelatinous zooplankton ingest plastic particles and may serve as a vector transferring microplastics through marine food webs.
Microplastic ingestion in jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskal, 1775) in the North Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers examined jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) collected from the North Atlantic off the Canary Islands and found microplastics in their tissues for the first time in this species, including polystyrene and polypropylene fragments, raising concerns about MP transfer through gelatinous zooplankton to higher trophic levels.
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.