Low prevalence of microplastic contamination in planktivorous fish species from the southeast Pacific Ocean. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ory, Nicolas; Chagnon, Catherine; Felix, Fernando; Fernández, César; Ferreira, Joana Lia; Gallardo, Camila; Garcés Ordóñez, Ostin; Henostroza, Aida; Laaz, Enrique; Mizraji, Ricardo; Mojica, Hermes; Murillo Haro, Vladimir; Ossa Medina, Luis; Preciado, Mercy; Sobral, Paula; Urbina, Mauricio A.; Thiel, Martin
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 127(2018)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Microplastic contamination -- Planktivorous fish -- Southeast Pacific Ocean -- Upwelling systems -- Humboldt Current System; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The gut contents of 292 planktivorous fish, from four families (Atherinopsidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae and Scombridae) and seven species, captured along the coast of the southeast Pacific, were examined for microplastic contamination. Only a small fraction of all studied fish (2.1%; 6 individuals) contained microplastic particles in their digestive tract. Microplastics found were degraded hard fragments and threads, ranging from 1.1 to 4.9 (3.8 ± SD 2.4) mm in length, and of various colours, which suggests that the planktivorous fish species examined herein did not capture microplastics on the basis of their colour. The low prevalence of microplastic contamination in planktivorous fishes found in this study suggests that the risk of accidental ingestion by these species might be limited in the coastal upwelled waters of the southeast Pacific, perhaps due to small human population and highly dynamic oceanographic processes. Highlights: Few (2%) planktivorous fish from coastal waters of the southeast Pacific had ingested microplastics. Microplastics were degraded hard fragments and threads of various colours. Planktivorous fishes from the SE Pacific coasts are under low risk of microplastic contamination. Upwelled coastal waters may quickly transport plastic litter offshore.