We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to From the Seafloor to the Surface: a Global Review of Gastropods as Bioindicators of Marine Microplastics
ClearImpact of nanoparticles on human health and disease
This review assessed whether marine snails (gastropods) can serve as reliable indicator species for microplastic pollution in the ocean, examining global literature across five gastropod subclasses. On average, about 33 plastic pieces were found per individual gastropod, with bottom-dwelling species accumulating the most. The findings suggest that gastropods are useful bioindicators for monitoring microplastic contamination in marine environments from the seafloor to the surface.
Microplastic Contamination and Exposure in Gastropods: A Literature Review
This literature review examined microplastic contamination in gastropod species across marine environments, assessing ingestion rates, particle types, and potential consequences for organism health and human seafood safety. The review found that gastropods consistently harbor microplastics, particularly fibers, and that bottom-dwelling species are among the most exposed due to sediment contact.
Microplastics in Global Marine Waters and Biota: Effectiveness of Potential Bioindicators in Mirroring Local Pollution Levels
This review assessed the global occurrence of microplastics in marine waters and biota and evaluated the effectiveness of potential bioindicator species for monitoring plastic pollution. The authors find that standardizing bioindicator protocols is essential for tracking the effectiveness of microplastic mitigation efforts.
Bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological impact of micro(nano)plastics in aquatic and land snails: Historical review, current research and emerging trends
This review summarizes the ecotoxicological impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on aquatic and land snail species worldwide. Researchers found evidence of microplastic bioaccumulation in 40 gastropod species, with Asia showing the highest contamination levels, and documented harmful effects including behavioral changes, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. The study highlights that toxicity depends on particle composition, shape, and size, and identifies significant research gaps in understanding how these pollutants affect invertebrate communities.
Using mussel as a global bioindicator of coastal microplastic pollution
This review evaluates whether mussels can serve as reliable global indicators of coastal microplastic pollution. Researchers found that mussels are well suited for this role due to their wide geographic distribution, filter-feeding behavior, and demonstrated ability to accumulate microplastics from surrounding waters. The study identifies remaining challenges in standardizing monitoring methods but concludes that mussels offer a practical and ecologically relevant tool for tracking marine microplastic contamination.
Kandungan Mikroplastik Pada Gastropoda di Kawasan Tahura Ngurah Rai, Bali
This Indonesian study found microplastics in the bodies of gastropods (snails) living in the Tahura Ngurah Rai mangrove in Bali. Gastropods serve as useful bioindicators of microplastic contamination in mangrove ecosystems, which are important coastal habitats and nursery areas for fish.
A global perspective on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine organisms
This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in marine organisms around the world, documenting how plastics of various sizes and types build up in seafood species. Since many of these species end up on our plates, the findings raise important questions about how much microplastic humans may be consuming through seafood.
Microplastic load and polymer type composition in European rocky intertidal snails: Consistency across locations, wave exposure and years
Researchers examined microplastic loads in rocky intertidal snails across four European locations, finding consistent polymer type compositions and ingestion patterns regardless of geographic location, wave exposure, or sampling year.
First record of microplastics in marine sea slugs of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
Researchers documented the first records of microplastic contamination in marine sea slugs from both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, expanding the known taxonomic range of organisms affected by microplastic pollution in marine-coastal ecosystems.
Barnacles as silent sentinels of microplastic pollution: Evidence from Gujarat coast, India and a global meta-analysis of sessile marine species
This study found microplastics in all eight barnacle species sampled across 13 coastal sites in Gujarat, India, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene predominating. A global meta-analysis confirmed that sessile marine organisms like barnacles serve as reliable bioindicators of local microplastic contamination levels.
Gastropod pedal mucus retains microplastics and promotes the uptake of particles by marine periwinkles
Marine periwinkles (snails) use sticky mucus to move along surfaces, and this study found that this mucus also traps and concentrates microplastic particles, facilitating their ingestion. This newly identified pathway increases the amount of microplastics that snails and similar mollusks consume from contaminated shorelines.
Microplastics in rocky shore mollusks of different feeding habits: An assessment of sentinel performance
Researchers examined microplastic levels in three types of rocky shore mollusks with different feeding habits along a pollution gradient in Brazil. Filter-feeding oysters accumulated the most microplastics, followed by plant-eating limpets and meat-eating snails, suggesting that how an animal feeds affects how much plastic it ingests. The study proposes that all three species could serve as useful sentinel organisms for monitoring microplastic contamination in coastal areas.
Barnacles as emerging sentinels of microplastic contamination: A global synthesis and analytical framing
Barnacles — the small crustaceans that encrust ship hulls and rocky shores — filter seawater continuously, making them promising sentinels for detecting microplastic pollution levels in the ocean. This global review of 14 field studies across seven countries found that barnacles consistently reflect local microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and cellophane being most common. While barnacles show real potential as low-cost monitoring organisms, the authors call for standardized methods to make data from different regions and studies comparable.
Distribution of microplastics in seafloor sediments and their differential assimilation in nearshore benthic molluscs along the south-west coast of India
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in seafloor sediments and benthic molluscs along a 300-kilometer stretch of India's southwest coast. They found significant MP levels in both sediments and all four mollusc species studied, with scavenging gastropods accumulating the highest concentrations. The study reveals that feeding strategy is a key factor in microplastic uptake by marine organisms, with ecological risk indices indicating elevated contamination levels in most sampling stations.
Microplastics in Florida, United States: A Case Study of Quantification and Characterization With Intertidal Snails
Researchers quantified and characterized microplastic contamination in Florida coastal waters using intertidal snails as indicator organisms, documenting the extent of MP pollution along beaches that are subject to heavy tourism and hurricane disturbance.
Tracing Microplastic Pollution Through Animals: A Narrative Review of Bioindicator Approaches
This review evaluates animals that have been proposed as bioindicators for monitoring microplastic pollution across aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial environments. Researchers found that bivalves like clams and mussels are among the most suitable indicators due to their wide distribution, effective microplastic retention, and well-established analytical methods. The study provides a framework for selecting appropriate sentinel species based on ecological, physiological, and methodological criteria.
Bivalve Mollusks as Biological Monitoring of Microplastic: A Review of Anadara antiquata and Gafrarium sp. in Indonesia
This Indonesian review examines two bivalve species (Anadara antiquata and Gafrarium sp.) as biological monitors of coastal microplastic contamination, synthesizing evidence that these filter feeders accumulate microplastics from seawater and serve as reliable sentinels for pollution in Indonesian coastal ecosystems.
Peran Organisme Sessile Sebagai Bioindikator Mikroplastik Di Ekosistem Pesisir: Systematic Literature Review
This systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on how sessile coastal organisms — particularly bivalves like mussels and oysters — accumulate microplastics through their filter-feeding behavior, making them useful biological indicators of contamination. The review found that fibers dominate across most species and locations, and that polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET are the most common polymer types. Because these organisms are widely consumed by humans and are sensitive to environmental changes, they serve as both ecological sentinels and a potential pathway for microplastic exposure in human diets.
Barnacles as potential bioindicator of microplastic pollution in Hong Kong
Researchers examined microplastic occurrence in four barnacle species collected from 30 sites across Hong Kong waters, finding microplastics — predominantly fibers — in all species and proposing barnacles as potential bioindicators of coastal microplastic pollution.
The Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a Biomonitor for Microplastic Pollution
Researchers assessed the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator for microplastic pollution, focusing on improving quantification of small microplastics below 25 µm that conventional methods miss. Mussels were found to accumulate microplastics efficiently across size ranges, validating their use as biomonitors while highlighting the need for improved analytical methods.
Experimental accumulation of microplastics in acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite and its use in estimating microplastic concentration in coastal waters
Researchers assessed the potential of acorn barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite) as bioindicators for microplastic pollution, finding that these filter feeders accumulate polypropylene fibers and fragments in ways that could help estimate coastal water contamination levels.
Bivalves with potential for monitoring microplastics in South America
Researchers tested three South American mussel species and found that all of them accumulated microplastics in their tissues, feces, and pseudofeces, suggesting these bivalves can serve as reliable bioindicators — living monitors — for microplastic contamination in coastal waterways.
Editorial: From micro to macro: interactions of marine biota with plastic pollution
Researchers compiled findings from multiple global studies on marine organisms interacting with plastic pollution — spanning filter-feeding mussels and barnacles, stranded sperm whales, and demersal fish — highlighting species-specific plastic ingestion patterns and the potential of certain organisms to serve as pollution bioindicators.
Research Progress in Transfer, Accumulation and Effects of Microplastics in the Oceans
This review summarized global research on microplastic distribution, accumulation, and biological effects in ocean environments, covering transport mechanisms from surface to deep sea, ingestion across the food web, and evidence for physical and chemical toxicity to marine organisms.