The waste collector: information from a pilot study on the interaction between the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier, 1797) and marine litter in bottom traps fishing and first evidence of plastic ingestion. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pedà, Cristina; Longo, Francesco; Berti, Claudio; Laface, Federica; De Domenico, Francesca; Consoli, Pierpaolo; Battaglia, Pietro; Greco, Silvestro; Romeo, Teresa
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 174(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Cephalopoda -- Local ecological knowledge -- Marine litter -- Microplastics ingestion -- Mediterranean Sea; 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.2021.113185
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Few studies focused on behaviour adaptations of organisms to marine litter (ML) pollution in Mediterranean Sea. This research, investigates on some behavior traits of Octopus vulgaris, focusing on the interaction with ML during the artisanal fishing activities by the bottom traps in a small coastal area of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. For the first time, this pilot study uses an integrated approach based on the Fishermen Ecological Knowledge as well as the analysis of ML found in the traps. First assessment of plastic ingestion in this species are also reported. Plastic and metal were the predominant ML categories observed into the bottom traps. A total of 62 plastics, mainly small microplastics and fibres shaped, were ingested. The ML finding in the bottom traps suggests an interesting behavior of the common octopus regarding its interaction with ML, in fact, it seems to bring ML inside its dens, as a collector. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Interaction between marine litter and Octopus vulgaris in bottom trap fishing. Fishermen's knowledge as good tool to assess marine litter interaction with fauna. Plastic and metal were the main litter categories found in the bottom traps. The O. vulgaris participates unconsciously to "clean up actions" in marine environment. First evidence of plastic ingestion in the O. vulgaris .