Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Capture, swallowing, and egestion of microplastics by a planktivorous juvenile fish

Slow-motion video analysis of a planktivorous fish revealed that it engulfed microplastics using the same feeding mechanism as natural prey, and that particles could be expelled through the gills or swallowed. The study provides mechanistic insight into how fish ingest microplastics and helps explain why particles resembling zooplankton in size and appearance are most commonly found in fish guts.

2018 Environmental Pollution 306 citations
Article Tier 2

Particle separation mechanisms in suspension-feeding fishes: key questions and future directions

This review synthesizes current knowledge about particle separation mechanisms in suspension-feeding fish, examining how gill raker morphology, ram and suction feeding mechanics, and cross-step filtration interact to retain food particles. The authors identify key unanswered questions about the minimum particle size that can be selectively retained and how microplastics are handled compared to natural food particles.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic loads within riverine fishes and macroinvertebrates are not predictable from ecological or morphological characteristics

Researchers measured microplastic loads in riverine fish and macroinvertebrates and found that particle counts were not reliably predicted by species ecology or morphology, suggesting that individual variation and local environmental factors play a larger role in microplastic ingestion than feeding guild or habitat alone.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Is the feeding type related with the content of microplastics in intertidal fish gut?

Researchers compared microplastic ingestion across intertidal fish with different feeding strategies and found that feeding type influenced the amount of plastic found in stomachs. The study suggests that filter feeders and detritivores may ingest more microplastics than active predators, linking ecological role to plastic exposure risk.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 346 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion and diet composition of planktivorous fish

This study analyzed stomach contents of six planktivorous pelagic fish species from Atlanto-Iberian waters, finding microplastics in a substantial proportion of individuals. The relationship between microplastic ingestion and diet composition suggests that fish consuming prey similar in size to microplastics are at higher risk of ingestion.

2020 Limnology and Oceanography Letters 127 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts of planktivorous fish from the Thoothukudi region

Planktivorous fish from the Thoothukudi region of southern India were surveyed for microplastic ingestion, with plastics found in a high proportion of the 677 individuals examined across multiple species. The results demonstrate that passive ingestion during filter feeding makes planktivorous fish particularly susceptible to microplastic exposure.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Species-specific effect of microplastics on fish embryos and observation of toxicity kinetics in larvae

Researchers compared microplastic ingestion across three commercial fish species with different feeding types (carnivores, omnivores, filter feeders), finding that carnivores ingested the least microplastic while omnivores were less able to eliminate them than filter feeders.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 117 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics in Fish by Trophic Level in Kupang Bay, Indonesia

Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in fish from Kupang Bay, Indonesia across herbivore and carnivore trophic levels and multiple organs (GIT, gills, muscle), finding carnivores accumulated more microplastics than herbivores and gills showed the highest concentrations.

2025 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
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

Microplastic evacuation in fish is particle size‐dependent

Microplastic retention time in fish was found to depend on particle size, with larger particles being evacuated more slowly than smaller ones, providing empirical data to interpret gut burden studies and better understand chronic exposure dynamics.

2021 Freshwater Biology 69 citations
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

Does the mouth size influence microplastic ingestion in fishes?

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in six tropical fish species with different mouth sizes from Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal. The study found that mouth size did influence microplastic ingestion rates, with larger-mouthed species generally accumulating more particles, suggesting that feeding morphology plays a role in microplastic uptake.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 44 citations
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

Do feeding habits influence anthropogenic particle consumption in demersal fish in a tropical estuary? A study from the northern part of the Tropical Eastern Pacific

This study examined how feeding habits and trophic level influence microplastic ingestion in demersal fish from a tropical Mexican estuary, finding that feeding guild and trophic position both affected the type and quantity of anthropogenic particles consumed.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science
Article Tier 2

Plastic intake does not depend on fish eating habits: Identification of microplastics in the stomach contents of fish on an urban beach in Brazil

Researchers analyzed microplastic content in the stomachs of seven fish species from an urban beach in Brazil and found that trophic guild (carnivore, omnivore, herbivore) did not predict microplastic ingestion rates, suggesting that incidental ingestion during feeding is widespread regardless of diet type.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 88 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of microplastic prevalence and abundance in freshwater fish species: the effect of fish species habitat, feeding behavior, and Fulton’s condition factor

A meta-analysis of freshwater fish across 42 studies found an average of 2.35 microplastic items per individual, with 80% of research focused on the gastrointestinal tract and 58% on river environments. Contrary to expectations, microplastic ingestion correlated with fish body physiology (size and weight) rather than feeding behavior or habitat, suggesting physical characteristics determine uptake more than ecological niche.

2024 Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of microplastics in fish guts and gills from a large natural lake: Selective or non-selective?

Researchers studied microplastic accumulation in the guts and gills of 11 fish species from Lake Chao in China to determine whether fish selectively take up certain types of plastic particles. The study found that fish guts showed selective accumulation patterns influenced by feeding behavior, while gills accumulated microplastics more randomly through water filtration. This suggests that fish gills could serve as useful indicators of real-time microplastic pollution levels in freshwater environments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 83 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure pathway derived accumulation of microplastics in freshwater fish: A critical review

This systematic review of 78 field and laboratory studies synthesized how microplastics accumulate in different freshwater fish tissues depending on exposure pathway, finding that gill-filtered and orally ingested particles follow distinct tissue distribution patterns.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion in marine mesozooplankton species associated with functional feeding traits

This study examined microplastic ingestion in marine mesozooplankton species with different functional traits, finding that feeding mode, body size, and habitat use are key predictors of plastic uptake across zooplankton communities.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic load and distribution in the respiratory and digestive systems of some commercial fish species in the southwestern coast of Bangladesh

This Bangladeshi study investigated microplastic occurrence in the respiratory and digestive systems of three commercially important fish species from the southwestern coast. MPs were found in all species, with the digestive tract accumulating more particles than the gills, and fiber was the dominant particle shape detected.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Variability in the drivers of microplastic consumption by fish across four lake ecosystems

Researchers examined microplastic consumption by three fish species across four lakes in Minnesota and found that ingestion rates varied by species and feeding strategy. Filter-feeding fish consumed microplastics at rates that matched local water contamination levels, while visual feeders did not show the same pattern. The findings indicate that a fish's feeding behavior plays a major role in determining its microplastic exposure.

2024 Frontiers in Earth Science 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characterization of microplastic content in the digestive system of riverine fishes

Researchers found microplastics in 93.8% of riverine fish examined, with polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon being the most common polymer types concentrated near urban and industrial areas, and small particles (0.025-1 mm) predominating across species.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment

Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercial fish caught from a natural estuarine environment and found microplastics in a significant proportion of individuals, documenting both occurrence rates and particle characteristics.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 586 citations
Article Tier 2

A self-cleaning, bio-inspired high retention filter for a major entry path of microplastics

Researchers developed a bio-inspired self-cleaning filter for washing machine microplastic fibre capture, modeled on the gill arch system of ram-feeding fish, achieving high retention efficiency while resisting clogging — a key limitation of existing domestic filtration solutions.

2025