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Microplastics in Antarctic echinoderms: A rapid narrative review and call for field-based research
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This narrative review examined current evidence for microplastic contamination in Antarctic echinoderms, finding limited but growing data suggesting MP accumulation in these ecologically important benthic organisms, and calling for systematic field studies to characterize contamination across Antarctic shelf communities.
Microplastics have been detected across Antarctic environment, yet their impacts on key benthic taxa remain poorly understood. Echinoderms, of which are a dominating group of megafauna found in Antarctic shelf and deep-sea communities, play crucial roles in sediment turnover and nutrient cycling, both of which may be vulnerable to disruption from plastic contamination. This rapid narrative review evaluates global evidence of microplastic ingestion and impacts in echinoderms and examines the extent of Antarctic-specific research. While studies from temperate and tropical regions suggest echinoderms readily ingest microplastics, no in situ data currently exist for Antarctic species. Only one laboratory-based study has explored physiological responses to nanoplastics in an Antarctic echinoderm. Given their ecological significance and likely exposure routes, this review highlights a critical research gap and calls for targeted, field-based investigations to assess microplastic uptake, retention, and sub-lethal effects in Antarctic echinoderms.
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Researchers sampled echinoderms across 14 rocky shore sites in South Africa and measured microplastic abundance, characteristics, and ecological risk by feeding type, providing first data on microplastic prevalence in this understudied invertebrate group and identifying which feeding strategies lead to higher microplastic ingestion.
Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research
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This paper reviewed microplastics research in the Antarctic marine system, identifying it as an emerging research area and documenting the first evidence of microplastic contamination in this remote polar environment.
Occurrence of Microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and Its Impact on the Health of Organisms
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This review compiled recent findings on microplastic occurrence in Antarctica in both water and sediment, finding that tourism, fishing, and research activities have introduced MPs to this previously considered pristine environment with documented impacts on Antarctic organisms.
Hidden threat: microplastics interaction with Antarctic benthic invertebrates
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Researchers exposed three Antarctic benthic species, including a bivalve, to polyethylene microbeads to quantify ingestion rates and characterize microplastic interactions in Southern Ocean invertebrates, finding that these remote organisms ingest microplastics and highlighting significant gaps in understanding ecological consequences for Antarctic benthic biodiversity.
Hidden threat: microplastics interaction with Antarctic benthic invertebrates
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Researchers quantified and compared the ingestion of polyethylene microbeads by three Antarctic benthic species — including a bivalve — to assess microplastic interactions with Southern Ocean invertebrates, addressing a significant gap in understanding ecological impacts on these unique and sensitive organisms in one of the world's most remote environments.
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.