Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in the dominant crabs at the intertidal zone of Chongming Island, Yangtze Estuary

This study investigated microplastic contamination in dominant intertidal crabs (Chiromantes dehaani) at Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, finding widespread microplastic ingestion in a species whose burrowing and bioturbation behaviors may redistribute plastics in sediment.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Can fiddler crab bioturbation activity in situ modify the distribution of microplastics in sediments and the influence on their bioaccumulation?

Researchers examined fiddler crab (Minuca rapax) bioturbation in mangrove sediments of the southern Gulf of Mexico, finding that crab burrowing activity concentrated microplastics in burrow sediments and that the characteristics of microplastics ingested by the crabs reflected those found in burrows, with the degree of bioturbation-driven MP concentration varying with local urbanization levels.

2022
Article Tier 2

Can the bioturbation activity of the fiddler crab Minuca rapax modify the distribution of microplastics in sediments?

Researchers investigated whether the bioturbation activity of the fiddler crab Minuca rapax can modify the distribution of microplastics in sediments along an urbanization gradient in the Gulf of Mexico. The study compared microplastic concentrations between burrows, feeding pellets, and crab tissues, finding that microplastics were more abundant and diverse in burrows. Evidence indicates that fiddler crab burrowing and feeding behaviors actively redistribute microplastics within coastal sediments.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics and corresponding feeding habits of the dominant shrimps in the rivers of Chongming Island

Researchers investigated spatial-temporal distribution of microplastics in rivers and dominant shrimp species on Chongming Island, revealing correlations between microplastic contamination patterns and shrimp feeding habits.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Benthic fauna contribute to microplastic sequestration in coastal sediments

Researchers investigated how burrowing seafloor organisms contribute to the burial of microplastics in coastal sediments. They found that benthic fauna actively transport microplastics from the sediment surface to deeper layers through their burrowing and feeding activities. The study suggests that biological processes play a significant role in sequestering microplastics within marine sediments, which has implications for understanding the long-term fate of plastic pollution in the ocean.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Sand Crab Scopimera globosa Behavior: Implications for Microplastic Transport and Sulfur Cycling through Bioturbation

This study found that microplastic exposure changed the burrowing behavior of sand crabs in estuaries, causing them to dig deeper and avoid contaminated surface sediments. This behavioral shift actually moved microplastics through sediment layers 27 times faster than without the crabs and disrupted important sulfur-cycling bacteria in the soil. The findings show how microplastics can indirectly affect coastal ecosystem processes by altering the behavior of the animals that maintain sediment health.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and translocation of microplastics in tissues of deposit-feeding crabs (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea) in Kochi estuary, Japan

More than half of 116 intertidal crabs collected from a Japanese estuary contained microplastics, with PET fragments dominating and particles concentrated primarily in the gut. Smaller deposit-feeding crab species carried a higher microplastic burden relative to body weight than larger omnivorous species, showing that feeding behavior and body size both shape how much plastic wildlife accumulates in contaminated estuaries.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution among estuarine sedimentary habitats utilized by intertidal crabs

This study mapped microplastic distribution across multiple sedimentary habitat types in an estuary to support spatially refined risk assessments for intertidal fauna. Results showed microplastic abundance varied significantly by habitat, with implications for species that rely on specific substrates.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Beyond Abiotic Decay: Fiddler Crabs Accelerate Plastic Fragmentation in Pollution Hotspots

Researchers found that fiddler crabs mechanically accelerate plastic fragmentation in mangrove forests — recognized plastic sequestration hotspots — through their burrowing and feeding activities. The study demonstrates that these ecosystem engineer crabs, which thrive in plastic-pollution hotspots, actively contribute to microplastic generation, potentially amplifying plastic contamination in coastal sediments.

2025 Global Change Biology
Article Tier 2

Impact of MicroplasticExposure on Sand Crab Scopimera globosa Behavior: Implications for MicroplasticTransport and Sulfur Cycling through Bioturbation

Researchers exposed sand crabs to microplastics in laboratory simulations and measured changes in burrowing behavior and bioturbation activity, then modeled downstream effects on sediment sulfur cycling. Microplastic exposure reduced burrowing activity, which in turn altered sediment oxygen penetration and sulfur transformations, demonstrating indirect ecological impacts on estuarine biogeochemistry.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Unveiling microplastic distribution and interactions in the benthic layer of the Yangtze River Estuary and East China Sea

Researchers mapped microplastic distribution in the benthic layer of the Yangtze River Estuary and East China Sea, finding that microplastic concentrations in bottom water were 8 to 175 times higher than in surface water. The study reveals that polyester fibers were the dominant type, and that complex interactions between bottom water and sediment play a key role in how microplastics accumulate in these coastal environments.

2023 Environmental Science and Ecotechnology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution and ecological effects of microplastics in an estuarine ecosystem

Researchers surveyed 22 intertidal sites and found that microplastic abundance, size, and diversity correlated with benthic microalgal communities and sediment biostabilization properties in an estuarine ecosystem.

2021 Environmental Pollution 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in sediments of the Changjiang Estuary, China

Researchers sampled sediments in the Changjiang Estuary and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and polymer types reflecting inputs from the Yangtze River and coastal human activities.

2017 Environmental Pollution 774 citations
Article Tier 2

Consequences of anthropogenic activities and beach dynamics on vertical distribution of microplastics in the mid-intertidal sediments of Donghai Island, China

Researchers studied the vertical distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediments on Donghai Island, China, finding that depth profiles were strongly influenced by beach dynamics and human activity patterns. Microplastics were concentrated in the upper sediment layers, with anthropogenic disturbance intensifying accumulation. The study establishes baseline data for coastal microplastic monitoring and management.

2022 Water Science & Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution and Settlement of Microplastics in the Surface Sediment of Yangtze Estuary].

Researchers found microplastics in surface sediments at six sites in China's Yangtze River estuary, with concentrations varying by location and season. The study documents significant plastic contamination in this major coastal zone, raising concerns about ecosystem health and entry of microplastics into the marine food web.

2018 PubMed 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution characteristics of aged microplastics in the surface water, sediment, and crabs of the aquaculture pond in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in crab aquaculture ponds in China, finding particles in the water, sediment, and crab tissues. The crabs' intestines contained the most microplastics, followed by gills and liver, and contamination levels increased with body weight. Since these crabs are raised for human consumption, the study shows that farmed seafood can be a direct source of microplastic exposure for people.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Variation in microplastics composition at small spatial and temporal scales in a tidal flat of the Yangtze Estuary, China

Researchers investigated microplastic variation at small spatial and temporal scales in a tidal flat of the Yangtze Estuary, finding that surface sediments had higher microplastic abundances during neap tides than spring tides, and that vegetation zones had distinct microplastic composition compared to bare mudflat areas.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic load of benthic fauna in Jiaozhou Bay, China

This study quantified microplastic load in benthic fauna from Jiaozhou Bay in China, finding that multiple invertebrate species ingested microplastics with concentrations influenced by feeding mode, habitat depth, and proximity to human activity, helping clarify factors controlling microplastic distribution in marine benthos.

2023 Environmental Pollution 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Distribution and Influence Factor Analysis of Seawater and Surface Sediments in a Typical Bay With Diverse Functional Areas: A Case Study in Xincun Lagoon, China

Researchers assessed microplastic distribution in Xincun Lagoon in China, finding that different human activities such as tourism, fishing, and aquaculture directly influenced the type and level of microplastic pollution in seawater and sediments.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics, influencing factors, and ecological risks of microplastics in the north branch tidal marshes of the Yangtze River estuary

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in tidal marshes at the Yangtze River estuary and found an average of about 507 particles per kilogram of sediment. The distribution was strongly influenced by salinity and vegetation type, with freshwater areas dominated by reeds containing more microplastics than saltwater zones. The study highlights how seawater intrusion and plant communities shape where microplastics accumulate in these ecologically sensitive coastal wetlands.

2025 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Macroecotoxicological approaches to emerging patterns of microplastic bioaccumulation in crabs from estuarine and marine environments

Smaller, shorter-lived crabs and those from estuarine intertidal/muddy habitats accumulated significantly more microplastics, with burrowing species holding more particles than omnivorous ones. Crabs at lower latitudes -- likely due to mangrove trapping effects -- and non-human-consumed species showed higher microplastic loads, with colorless PA, PP, and PET fibers (1-5 mm) predominating.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Changes in particle mixing by benthic infauna induced by microplastics: implications for nitrogen cycling in marine sediments

Researchers found that increasing polypropylene microplastic concentrations impaired deep-burrowing behaviour of the marine worm Macroclymenella stewartensis but not the bivalve Macomona liliana, with microplastics also modifying interspecific relationships and thereby disrupting particle mixing and nutrient cycling processes in marine sediments.

2025 Marine Ecology Progress Series
Article Tier 2

Dynamic signatures of microplastic distribution across the water column of Yangtze River Estuary: Complicated implication of tidal effects

Seasonal sampling of microplastic concentrations throughout the Yangtze River Estuary water column found tidal dynamics strongly influenced distribution, with researchers developing a model estimating 2154 tons per year of microplastic flux into the East China Sea and a tide impact factor index of 38-58%.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal dynamics, tidal influences, and anthropogenic impacts on microplastic distribution in the Yangtze River estuary: A comprehensive characterization and comparative analysis

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River estuary and found average concentrations of about 1 particle per cubic meter of surface water, mostly polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Microplastic levels were nearly twice as high during flood season compared to dry season and decreased with distance from urban centers. These findings highlight how population density and seasonal water flow influence microplastic distribution in major waterways.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 24 citations