First record of microplastics in the Gigantidas platifrons (Mytilidae: Bathymodiolus) and Shinkaia crosnieri (Munidopsidae: Shinkaia) from cold-seep in the South China Sea. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Teng, Jia; Zhao, Jianmin; Sun, Chaofan; Shan, Encui; Wang, Minxiao; Wang, Qing
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 187(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Cold seeps -- Microplastic -- Mollusk -- Crustacean -- Uptake; 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.2022.114523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The deep sea is considered the final sink for microplastics (MPs) pollution in marine environments. Despite MPs being consumed by many organisms, their presence in cold-seep organisms remains unclear. At cold seep site F in the South China Sea, which lies 1155 m deep, MPs were investigated in Gigantidas platifrons and Shinkaia crosnieri, both ecologically important species. Microplastics ingestion rates were 80.98 % and 81.25 % in G. platifrons and S. crosnieri, respectively. The average MPs abundance for G. platifrons and S. crosnieri was 2.80 ± 0.69 MPs/ind (2.20 ± 2.75 MPs/g) and 2.30 ± 0.27 MPs/ind (4.74 ± 3.08 MPs/g), with no significant difference between species. There were predominantly fibrous MPs ingested by cold-seep organisms, sized 500–1000 μm, blue in color, and polyethylene terephthalate and cellophane in composition. The results confirm the presence of MPs in cold-seep organisms in the South China Sea, providing further evidence that MP pollution exists in the deep sea. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: The first record of MPs in cold seeps organisms from the South China Sea Microplastics were detected in Gigantidas platifrons and Shinkaia crosnieri . The average abundance of MPs was 2.58 ± 0.59 MPs/ind. The most common types of MPs were PET and CP.