Plastic litter transfer from sediments towards marine trophic webs: A case study on holothurians. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Renzi, Monia; Blašković, Andrea; Bernardi, Giulia; Russo, Giovanni F.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 135(2018)
• Page Start: 376
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Salina Island -- Sea cucumbers -- Rocky bottom habitats -- Aeolian archipelago; 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.2018.07.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This study estimates for the very first time plastic litter levels in sea cucumbers (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) sampled in situ and their intakes from sediments in three different rocky bottom habitats (slides, cliff, banks) settled in Salina Island (Aeolian Archipelago). Macroplastic were never recorded while meso- and microplastics were identified in all sediment (81–438 items/kg d.w.) and animal samples (1.8–22 items/ind.). Plastic intakes by sea cucumbers resulted frequently associated to the size range included within 100–2000 μm. Over than 70% of ingested plastic litter is represented by the size fraction >500 μm. Sediment/animals ratios % are included 2.7 ± 2.0% in studied habitats with a selective intake of fragments occurring in slides. Furthermore, results support the occurrence of selective ingestion of plastic litter by holothurians in natural environments underlining the role of these species in microplastic transfer from abiotic towards biotic compartments of the marine trophic web. Highlights: Plastic litter in holothurians and sediments were evaluated to perform a comparative analysis. Samples were collected from different marine rocky bottom habitats (Salina, Aeolian Archipelago). Microplastics items were 1.8–22 items/ind. and over than 70% of ingested plastics are >500 μm. Sediment/animals rates% were 4.2–2.3% in all considered habitats, selective intake of fragments in slides recorded.