We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Gooseneck barnacles ( Lepas spp.) ingest microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre
Summary
Researchers examined the gut contents of gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) collected from floating debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre and found that all individuals had ingested microplastic particles. The findings demonstrate that suspension-feeding invertebrates colonizing floating plastic debris are directly exposed to and ingest microplastics, representing a pathway for plastic entry into open-ocean food webs.
Substantial quantities of small plastic particles, termed "microplastic," have been found in many areas of the world ocean, and have accumulated in particularly high densities on the surface of the subtropical gyres. While plastic debris has been documented on the surface of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) since the early 1970s, the ecological implications remain poorly understood. Organisms associated with floating objects, termed the "rafting assemblage," are an important component of the NPSG ecosystem. These objects are often dominated by abundant and fast-growing gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.), which predate on plankton and larval fishes at the sea surface. To assess the potential effects of microplastic on the rafting community, we examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 385 barnacles collected from the NPSG for evidence of plastic ingestion. We found that 33.5% of the barnacles had plastic particles present in their gastrointestinal tract, ranging from one plastic particle to a maximum of 30 particles. Particle ingestion was positively correlated to capitulum length, and no blockage of the stomach or intestines was observed. The majority of ingested plastic was polyethylene, with polypropylene and polystyrene also present. Our results suggest that barnacle ingestion of microplastic is relatively common, with unknown trophic impacts on the rafting community and the NPSG ecosystem.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic ingestion by pelagic gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) and other insights on their biology and ecology in the South Pacific Ocean
This study examined microplastic ingestion by pelagic gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) in the South Pacific Ocean, species considered highly capable of microplastic ingestion among rafting organisms. Microplastics were found in barnacles across sampling sites, and the study provided ecological context for understanding the role of rafting organisms in concentrating and transporting plastic pollution in open-ocean ecosystems.
Ingestion of Microplastics by Zooplankton in the Northeast Pacific Ocean
Researchers collected zooplankton from the northeast Pacific Ocean and found microplastics ingested by multiple species, demonstrating that microplastic uptake occurs throughout the open ocean zooplankton community far from coastlines.
In situ microplastic ingestion by neritic zooplankton of the central Mexican Pacific
Researchers documented in situ microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in two bays of the central Mexican Pacific, finding that copepods, decapod larvae, and chaetognaths ingested microplastics, predominantly fibers, with higher rates during the rainy season.
Non-selective feeding on microplastics in the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite: the implications in assessing barnacles as global microplastics bioindicators
Researchers studied microplastic ingestion by striped barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite) by exposing them to three plastic types, two sizes, and two concentrations, with and without biofilm coatings. Barnacles ingested microplastics non-selectively regardless of type or biofilm status, confirming them as useful bioindicators of plastic pollution in marine environments.
Episodic records of jellyfish ingestion of plastic items reveal a novel pathway for trophic transference of marine litter
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.