Papers

Natural history matters: Plastics in estuarine fish and sediments at the mouth of an urban watershed

Estuarine sediments in an urban California creek contained about 10,000 microplastic pieces per square meter, dominated by fibers, and nearly 25% of fish collected contained plastics, with species-specific ingestion patterns reflecting different natural histories. The study also found multiple semivolatile organic compounds in fish tissue, suggesting plastic ingestion co-occurs with chemical contamination in urban estuaries.

Gooseneck barnacles ( Lepas spp.) ingest microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

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.

Contaminant Risk and Social Vulnerability Associated with Crustacean Shellfish Harvest in the Highly Urbanized San Diego Bay, USA

A study of crustacean shellfish harvested from San Diego Bay found that California spiny lobsters and two crab species contained a range of emerging contaminants including microplastics (anthropogenic debris), pyrethroids, phthalates, and PFOS. Surveys showed that harvesting was most common among lower-income communities, meaning those least able to avoid health risks bear a disproportionate share of exposure. The findings highlight an environmental justice concern: urban bay shellfish contaminated with microplastics and other pollutants are primarily consumed by socially vulnerable populations.

Five actionable pillars to engage the next generation of leaders in the co-design of transformative ocean solutions

This perspective paper proposes five actionable pillars for engaging early-career ocean professionals in co-designing ocean sustainability solutions, including knowledge-sharing networks, cross-boundary training, incentivizing co-design, inclusive governance structures, and catalyzing cultural change for inclusivity.

Spatial and Temporal Examination of Bivalve Communities in Several Estuaries of Southern California and Northern Baja California, MX

This ecology paper describes spatial and temporal patterns in bivalve communities across multiple estuaries of northwest Portugal, documenting long-term changes in species composition and abundance. Estuarine bivalves are important indicators and accumulators of microplastic contamination, making baseline community data relevant for future pollution impact assessments.

Using Community Science to Address Pollution in an Urban Watershed: Lessons about Trash, Diverse Engagement, and the Need for Science Mindsets

Researchers partnered with a racially diverse, low-income community in San Diego to conduct a community science project measuring trash inputs and accumulation in an urban watershed. The project tested a model for engaging historically underrepresented communities in environmental science while generating data on plastic litter entering coastal waterways.

Peer Review #1 of "Gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) ingest microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (v0.1)"

This peer review evaluated a study on microplastic ingestion by gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, where researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 385 barnacles associated with floating debris in this plastic-accumulating region. The study was the first to document microplastic ingestion by a rafting invertebrate in the gyre, revealing that plastic exposure extends through the entire floating debris community.

Peer Review #2 of "Gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) ingest microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (v0.1)"

This second peer review also evaluated the gooseneck barnacle microplastic ingestion study from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, providing independent scientific assessment of the methodology and findings. The peer review process ensures that published research on microplastic ingestion by marine organisms meets scientific standards before contributing to the evidence base.

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic particles influence larval fish ecology.