We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastic for dinner? Observations of frequent debris ingestion by pelagic predatory fishes from the central North Pacific
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented frequent ingestion of plastic debris by large predatory pelagic fishes — including mahi-mahi, opah, and swordfish — sampled from the central North Pacific between 2007 and 2012. The findings demonstrate that plastic contamination extends beyond small planktivorous fish and seabirds to apex pelagic predators, with implications for trophic transfer of associated chemical contaminants.
There have been numerous reports of plastic debris accumulation in surface waters of the central North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Further, incidences have been reported of plastic ingestion by different marine organisms, including seabirds and small planktivorous fishes. Diet studies (2007 to 2012) of predatory pelagic fishes from this general region showed repeat observations of anthropogenic marine debris ingestion in 7 species (n = 595 individuals examined). Incidence rates ranged from <1% in Gempylus serpens to 58% in Lampris sp. (small-eye). Of all individuals 19% contained some form of marine debris, the majority of which was some form of plastic or fishing-related line. Surprisingly, species with the highest incidences of debris ingestion are thought to be primarily mesopelagic and unlikely to come into contact with surface waters containing known debris fields. Ingested debris pieces were found to be positively buoyant in seawater mimicking different depths. These observations are the first of their kind in scope and number, and suggest that more attention should be given to marine debris in subsurface waters as well as to poorly understood organismal and food web implications.
More Papers Like This
From prey to predators: Evidence of microplastic trophic transfer in tuna and large pelagic species in the southwestern Tropical Atlantic
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found evidence of microplastic trophic transfer from prey to tuna and large pelagic predators in the southwestern Tropical Atlantic, demonstrating that plastic contamination moves through marine food chains to economically important fish species.
Plastic ingestion and trophic transfer in an endangered top predator, the longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus), from the tropical western Pacific Ocean
AI summary Read the abstract
This study documented plastic ingestion and trophic transfer in longfin mako sharks from the tropical western Pacific, finding plastics in both the stomach contents and prey items of this endangered species, demonstrating that microplastic contamination reaches apex marine predators through trophic pathways.
First evidence of presence of plastic debris in stomach of large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined stomach contents of large predatory fish including swordfish and bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean Sea and found plastic debris in about 18% of the specimens. The ingested plastics ranged from tiny microplastics to large fragments, and were primarily polyethylene and polyester. This is the first study documenting plastic ingestion in large pelagic Mediterranean fish, suggesting that even top ocean predators are exposed to plastic pollution.
Plastic ingestion by North Pacific garbage patch fishes: highest occurrences and quantities in upper trophic pelagics
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists dissected fish from the North Pacific "garbage patch" and found that predators higher up the food chain—like blue sharks and amberjacks (a popular food fish)—had swallowed the most plastic, sometimes several pieces per fish. This matters because it suggests plastic can build up as it moves up the food chain, meaning the seafood on our plates may carry more plastic than we'd expect, though more research is needed to know exactly what this means for human health.
How plastic debris and associated chemicals impact the marine food web: A review.
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined how plastic debris and associated chemicals disrupt marine food webs at all trophic levels, from physical entanglement and false satiation in megafauna to microplastic ingestion and chemical transfer through trophic magnification, concluding that plastic contamination poses systemic threats to marine ecosystem function.
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.