Comparative assessment of microplastic ingestion among deep sea decapods : Distribution analysis in Sardinian and Catalan waters
Chiacchio, Lorenzo (Università degli Studi di Cagliari. Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente)
Cau, Alessandro (Università degli Studi di Cagliari. Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente)
Soler Membrives, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Follesa, Maria Cristina (Università degli Studi di Cagliari. Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente)
Bellodi, Andrea (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - Sicily Marine Centre)
Carreras Colom, Ester (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Microplastic (MP) pollution is a widespread and concerning environmental issue. The benthic layer is known as one of the major accumulation sinks, yet knowledge gaps still remain in describing the interactions of its biota with MPs. This work represents a comprehensive comparative analysis of MP ingestion in the four deep-sea crustacean decapods Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816), Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827), Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) sampled from two distinct regions of the Mediterranean Sea in order to underscore the species-specific characteristics driving their MP ingestion variations. Results show that 72. 5% of the individuals had ingested MPs, with fibers being the most common shape (91. 36%), followed by tangles (8. 64%). Catalan specimens had significantly higher fiber loads (mean; 3. 69 fibers ind) than Sardinian ones (mean; 1. 62 fibers ind), and distinct patterns among species were observed within the two regions. A. antennatus showed the highest MP load in the Catalan area whereas N. norvegicus was the most contaminated decapod in Sardinia. The observed variations are likely the result of a combination of factors, ranging from potentially different environmental exposure levels among regions to differences in the uptake and retention of MPs due to each species feeding ecology and morphological features. Overall, the results underscore the relevance of comprehensive assessments to properly interpret the trends in MP ingestion in crustacean decapods.
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Microfibers ; Plastic pollution ; Feeding ecology ; Mediterranean sea ; Benthos
Published in:	Environmental research, Vol. 270 (April 2025) , art. 120962, ISSN 1096-0953

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.120962

8 p, 3.0 MB

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