Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Decreased growth and survival in small juvenile fish, after chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic

Researchers exposed juvenile glassfish to environmentally realistic concentrations of both virgin and harbor-collected microplastics for 95 days, finding that fish in plastic-fed groups grew significantly less in length, depth, and mass, and had lower survival probability than controls.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 189 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics exposures of fish: internalization and effects on behavior and growth

This study examined how microplastics affect fish behavior and growth, finding that fish can ingest them but particles pass through the gut relatively quickly with limited effects at tested concentrations. The research highlights challenges in detecting microplastics in aquatic organisms and suggests risk depends heavily on exposure level and particle type.

2018 HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and Depuration of Microplastics by a Planktivorous Coral Reef Fish, Pomacentrus amboinensis

Researchers exposed a coral reef planktivorous fish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics and found ingestion in all exposed fish, with most particles cleared within 48 hours of depuration, suggesting rapid gut turnover limits longer-term accumulation under realistic conditions.

2021 Frontiers in Environmental Science 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on the feeding rates of larvae of a coastal fish: direct consumption, trophic transfer, and effects on growth and survival

Researchers tested whether microplastics in seawater affect the feeding rates, growth, and survival of California Grunion fish larvae. They found that microplastics reduced feeding rates and demonstrated that trophic transfer of microplastics from zooplankton to larval fish occurs readily. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may impair early fish development by interfering with feeding behavior and introducing contaminants through the food chain.

2022 Marine Biology 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Correction: Effects of microplastic exposure on the body condition and behaviour of planktivorous reef fish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus)

This is a published correction to a previous study that examined how microplastic exposure affects the body condition and behavior of a planktivorous reef fish species. The correction addresses errors in the original article's data or methodology. The original research investigated whether ingesting microplastics changes how reef fish feed, grow, and behave in their natural environment.

2024 PLoS ONE 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Feeding responses of reef-building corals provide species- and concentration-dependent risk assessment of microplastic

This study quantitatively assessed how reef-building coral species feed on microplastic particles, comparing feeding responses across species and concentrations relative to natural food particles. Results showed species-specific and concentration-dependent ingestion, providing a more nuanced risk assessment framework for microplastic impacts on corals.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of alternative natural diet on microplastic ingestion, functional responses and trophic transfer in a tri-trophic coastal pelagic food web

Researchers studied how microplastics move through a three-level marine food chain, from zooplankton prey to planktivorous fish, and how the availability of natural food affects microplastic ingestion. When natural food was scarce, organisms consumed more microplastics, and the particles transferred efficiently up the food chain. This study demonstrates that microplastics in the ocean can accumulate through the food web and reach fish species that humans commonly eat.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic exposure interacts with habitat degradation to affect behaviour and survival of juvenile fish in the field

Juvenile coral reef fish pulse-fed polystyrene microplastics and then released onto live or degraded coral patches became bolder, more active, and strayed farther from shelter — with microplastic exposure having a larger behavioral effect than habitat degradation — potentially increasing predation risk in the field.

2020 Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Increased food availability reducing the harmful effects of microplastics strongly depends on the size of microplastics

Researchers found that increased food availability reduced microplastic toxicity in the waterflea Daphnia magna, but this protective effect depended strongly on particle size, with the smallest nanoplastics remaining harmful even when food was plentiful.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics do not affect the feeding rates of a marine predator

Researchers exposed a marine predatory fish to microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations and measured feeding rate, finding no significant effect on prey capture behavior, suggesting that concerns about microplastics disrupting predator feeding may not apply at current environmental concentrations.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination of coral reef fish larvae of the Great Barrier Reef: baseline data and influences of oceanographic and ecological features

Researchers found microplastics in coral reef fish larvae collected from the Great Barrier Reef, with particles concentrated by the same oceanographic processes that aggregate zooplankton prey. The similarity in size between microplastics and natural prey items increases the likelihood of accidental ingestion by larvae.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics

Researchers examined how biodegradable versus non-biodegradable microplastics are ingested and retained by juvenile tropical reef fish. The study measured how polymer type, particle shape, size, and color influenced ingestion preferences and gastrointestinal transit time. The dataset provides detailed experimental measurements that help clarify which physical and chemical characteristics of microplastics drive their uptake by marine fish.

2026 Mendeley Data
Article Tier 2

Effect of biological and environmental factors on microplastic ingestion of commercial fish species

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species, evaluating how biological and environmental factors influence ingestion rates across 2,222 individual fish. The study assessed gastrointestinal tract contents to determine the extent and patterns of microplastic contamination. The findings suggest that both species-specific biology and environmental conditions play important roles in determining microplastic ingestion levels in commercial fish.

2022 Chemosphere 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics

Researchers investigated how biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics differ in their ingestion and retention by a tropical coral reef fish species. The study assessed how polymer type, particle shape, size, and color influenced the fish's microplastic ingestion preferences and gut transit times. The findings provide experimental data on the physical and chemical characteristics that drive microplastic uptake in marine organisms.

2026 Mendeley Data
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of microplastic ingestion by tropical fish from Moorea Island, French Polynesia

Researchers evaluated microplastic ingestion by four genera of adult tropical fish around Moorea Island, French Polynesia, finding microplastics in 21% of 133 digestive tracts examined. Ingested microplastic pieces averaged 1.25 per individual, with 70% of particles smaller than 0.3 mm, indicating widespread contamination of coral reef food webs.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 83 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on the Feeding Rates of Larvae of a Coastal Fish: Direct Consumption, Trophic Transfer, and Effects on Growth and Survival

Microplastics in seawater reduced the feeding rates of California grunion larvae and could be transferred from prey (copepods) to fish, indicating trophic transfer is possible. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution may impair fish growth and survival by reducing food intake in early life stages.

2021 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by fish: Body size, condition factor and gut fullness are not related to the amount of plastics consumed

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in commercial cod and saithe collected in Iceland, finding particles in about 20% of cod and 17% of saithe stomachs. No significant relationship was found between microplastic ingestion and fish body size, weight, gut fullness, or condition index.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination in selected creek fishes of northeastern Arabian Sea: A multi-species approach

Researchers studied the feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination of selected fish species, finding that feeding habits directly influence the quantity and type of microplastics ingested. The results demonstrate that trophic position and prey preferences are key predictors of microplastic exposure in wild fish.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Zooplankton responses to environmentally relevant microplastic conditions at low food availability

Researchers exposed marine zooplankton to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics under realistic low-exposure conditions, measuring effects on feeding, reproduction, and survival over multiple generations. Even at low concentrations, chronic microplastic exposure reduced zooplankton fitness.

2024 SHAREOK (University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; Central Oklahoma University)
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastics and the functional traits of fishes: A global meta‐analysis

This global meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies to measure how microplastics affect fish. The results showed that microplastic exposure harms feeding behavior, growth, and overall health in fish, with younger fish being especially vulnerable. Since fish are a major protein source for humans, these effects could ultimately impact food security and the quality of seafood on our plates.

2021 Global Change Biology 134 citations