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Distribution patterns of microplastics within the plankton of a tropical estuary
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Microplastics were found throughout a tropical Brazilian estuary across different seasons and zones, with densities roughly half those of fish larvae and comparable to fish egg densities. The results raise the possibility that microplastics compete with or are mistaken for natural food items by larval fish in this ecologically critical nursery habitat.
The Goiana Estuary was studied regarding the seasonal and spatial variations of microplastics (<5mm) and their quantification relative to the zooplankton. The total density (n 100 m(-3)) of microplastics represented half of the total fish larvae density and was comparable to fish eggs density. Soft, hard plastics, threads and paint chips were found in the samples (n=216). Their origins are probably the river basin, the sea and fisheries (including the lobster fleet). In some occasions, the amount of microplastics surpassed that of Ichthyoplankton. The highest amount of microplastics was observed during the late rainy season, when the environment is under influence of the highest river flow, which induces the runoff of plastic fragments to the lower estuary. The density of microplastics in the water column will determine their bioavailability to planktivorous organisms, and then to larger predators, possibly promoting the transfer of microplastic between trophic levels. These findings are important for better informing researchers in future works and as basic information for managerial actions.
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Widespread microplastic ingestion by fish assemblages in tropical estuaries subjected to anthropogenic pressures
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A survey of 2,233 fish from 69 species across two tropical Brazilian estuaries found microplastics in 9% of individuals, with ingestion rates linked to feeding guild, habitat use, and proximity to urban areas. The study demonstrates that microplastic ingestion is widespread even in tropical systems and is shaped by ecology rather than occurring at random.
Does the trophic guild influence microplastic ingestion in nursery areas? A case study on a southwestern Atlantic mangrove-dominated estuary
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Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in ten fish species from a mangrove-dominated estuary in Brazil's Tropical Atlantic, finding plastics in 61% of 145 specimens. Zooplanktivorous species ingested the most (averaging 2.33 MPs per individual), with polystyrene and polypropylene dominating.
Feeding Ecology and Microplastic Contamination of Planktophagous Fishes in a tropical Southwestern Atlantic Estuarine Ecosystem
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Feeding ecology and microplastic contamination of two planktophagous fish species (A. clupeoides and C. edentulus) were studied in a tropical Brazilian estuary, finding both species ingested microplastics—with contamination rates varying by season, body size, and estuarine position, reflecting their copepod-dominated diets.
Microplastic contamination in an urban estuary: Abundance and distribution of microplastics and fish larvae in the Douro estuary
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination and fish larval assemblages in the Douro estuary, Portugal, across monthly sampling surveys to assess co-occurrence and potential risk to early fish life stages. The study found that microplastics were present throughout the urban estuary and that fish larvae in nursery habitats face exposure risks from microplastic ingestion and associated pollutant uptake.
Use of resources and microplastic contamination throughout the life cycle of grunts (Haemulidae) in a tropical estuary
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Juvenile grunt fish (Haemulidae) in a Brazilian tropical estuary were found to contain microplastics during their early life stages in the estuary, with contamination patterns linked to their feeding habits and habitat use. Estuaries serve as critical nursery habitats for many commercial fish species, making early-life microplastic exposure especially concerning.
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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.