Ingestion and depuration of microplastics by a planktivorous coral reef fish, Pomacentrus amboinensis
Santana, Marina F.M., Dawson, Amanda L., Motti, Cherie, van Herwerden, Lynne, Lefevre, Carine, and Kroon, Frederieke (2021) Ingestion and depuration of microplastics by a planktivorous coral reef fish, Pomacentrus amboinensis. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9. 641135.
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Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous contaminants in marine environments and organisms. Concerns about potential impacts on marine organisms are usually associated with uptake of microplastics, especially via ingestion. This study used environmentally relevant exposure conditions to investigate microplastic ingestion and depuration kinetics of the planktivorous damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis. Irregular shaped blue polypropylene (PP) particles (longest length 125–250 μm), and regular shaped blue polyester (PET) fibers (length 600–700 μm) were selected based on physical and chemical characteristics of microplastics commonly reported in the marine environment, including in coral reef ecosystems. Individual adult damselfish were exposed to a single dose of PP particles and PET fibers at concentrations reported for waters of the Great Barrier Reef (i.e., environmentally relevant concentrations, ERC), or future projected higher concentrations (10x ERC, 100x ERC). Measured microplastic concentrations were similar to their nominal values, confirming that PP particles and PET fibers were present at the desired concentrations and available for ingestion by individual damselfish. Throughout the 128-h depuration period, the 88 experimental fish were sampled 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128-h post microplastic exposure and their gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) analyzed for ingested microplastics. While damselfish ingested both experimental microplastics at all concentrations, body burden, and depuration rates of PET fibers were significantly larger and longer, respectively, compared to PP particles. For both microplastic types, exposure to higher concentrations led to an increase in body burden and lower depuration rates. These findings confirm ingestion of PP particles and PET fibers by P. amboinensis and demonstrate for the first time the influence of microplastic characteristics and concentrations on body burden and depuration rates. Finally, despite measures put in place to prevent contamination, extraneous microplastics were recovered from experimental fish, highlighting the challenge to completely eliminate contamination in microplastic exposure studies. These results are critical to inform and continuously improve protocols for future microplastics research, and to elucidate patterns of microplastic contamination and associated risks in marine organisms.
| Item ID: | 69851 |
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| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 2296-665X |
| Keywords: | polypropylene, polyester, particle, fiber, marine environment, uptake, impact, damselfish |
| Copyright Information: | © 2021 Santana, Dawson, Motti, van Herwerden, Lefevre and Kroon. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does notcomply with these terms |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Nov 2021 02:13 |
| FoR Codes: | 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4105 Pollution and contamination > 410599 Pollution and contamination not elsewhere classified @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180505 Measurement and assessment of marine water quality and condition @ 100% |
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