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Microplastic abundances in a mussel bed and ingestion by the ribbed marsh mussel Geukensia demissa
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Microplastics were found in both the mussel bed habitat and within the tissues of the ribbed marsh mussel Geukensia demissa from a Rhode Island salt marsh, with concentrations suggesting ongoing ingestion from the environment. The study documents microplastic exposure in a key salt marsh bivalve and highlights potential impacts on the ecosystem services provided by this species.
Human activities have generated large quantities of microplastics that can be consumed by filter-feeding organisms as potential food sources. As a result, organisms may experience marked reductions in growth and/or health. To date there has been no investigations connecting microplastics (MPs) with the critically important ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa. Here we examined MP abundances within a bed of G. demissa in New Jersey. Results indicate that MP densities ranged between 11,000-50,000 pieces/m2. The abundance of larger MPs (5 mm ≥ 1 mm) did not vary among sampling sites while the smaller MPs (<1 mm) abundances did vary between sampling sites. These smaller MPs also accounted for 79% of MPs recovered from these sites. Based on the higher abundance of smaller MPs, we also investigated MP ingestion/rejection in a laboratory setting. These results confirmed that ribbed mussels can ingest MPs with negative consequences for the buoyancy of plastics rejected in feces and pseudofeces.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.