First account of plastic pollution impacting freshwater fishes in the Amazon: Ingestion of plastic debris by piranhas and other serrasalmids with diverse feeding habits

Andrade, Marcelo C.; Winemiller, Kirk O.; Barbosa, Priscilla S.; Fortunati, Alessia; Chelazzi, David; Cincinelli, Alessandra; Giarrizzo, Tommaso

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.088

Cited by 155 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Differences in fish microplastic concentrations across feeding guilds have been found in some marine studies, where omnivorous fish had microfiber concentrations an order of magnitude greater than herbivores and carnivores (Mizraji et al 2017). In contrast, when prevalence was low (e.g., 25% in Andrade et al 2019 and9% in Vendel et al 2017), differences among functional groups were not identified. Whether or not feeding guild appears to impact fish microplastic concentrations may depend on prevalence of microplastic concentration among individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Microplastic prevalence in two fish species in two U.S. reservoirs

Hurt

O’Reilly

Perry

2020

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

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The emergence of microplastics as a potential contaminant requires understanding the distribution and potential consumption of microplastics across ecosystems and species. Freshwater environments are known to have high concentrations of microplastics, but very little is known about the concentrations of microplastics within lacustrine fish. The very high prevalence and numbers of microplastics in two fish species in agricultural reservoirs in this study indicates that lacustrine fish may be at high risk of microplastic contamination. AbstractMicroplastics in the environment can impact feeding and physiological functions of organisms. Most studies have focused on marine systems, and studies of lacustrine organisms are less common. We examined microplastic concentration in 72 gizzard shad and 24 largemouth bass from two agricultural reservoirs in the midwestern U.S.A. with differing shoreline development. Microplastics were found in 100% of the fish, with 1-49 No. Fish −1 , independent of shoreline development. Bass had higher concentrations overall than shad. For bass, microplastics were more concentrated in the guts rather than gills, but the opposite was the case for shad, suggesting that feeding guild may influence where microplastics accumulate in fishes. The prevalence and concentrations reported here are greater than reported in marine systems and higher than reported in riverine studies. Our results underscore the ubiquitous distribution of microplastics and suggest that lake ecosystems in agricultural landscapes may be particularly susceptible to microplastic contamination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Microplastic prevalence in two fish species in two U.S. reservoirs

Hurt

O’Reilly

Perry

2020

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

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“…Outside of laboratory studies, investigations of the transfer of plastics through freshwater food webs are scarce, particularly in comparison to marine ecosystems. Ingestion of plastic fragments of 1–15 mm size had occurred in 27% of serrasalmid fishes sampled in the Amazon River, in this case including herbivores and omnivores that might have ingested plastic directly, but also carnivores where secondary ingestion—in other words food web transfer—might have occurred (Andrade et al., 2019). In three tributaries of Lake Michigan, functional guild influenced plastic ingestion by fishes, but rates of intake were greatest in zoobenthivores where there was no clear demonstration of predator–prey transfer (McNeish et al., 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food web transfer of plastics to an apex riverine predator

D’Souza

Windsor

Santillo

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

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As a rapidly accelerating expression of global change, plastics now occur extensively in freshwater ecosystems, yet there is barely any evidence of their transfer through food webs. Following previous observations that plastics occur widely in their prey, we used a field study of free‐living Eurasian dippers (Cinclus cinclus), to test the hypotheses that (1) plastics are transferred from prey to predators in rivers, (2) plastics contained in prey are transferred by adults to altricial offspring during provisioning and (3) plastic concentrations in faecal and regurgitated pellets from dippers increase with urbanization. Plastic occurred in 50% of regurgitates (n = 74) and 45% of faecal samples (n = 92) collected non‐invasively from adult and nestling dippers at 15 sites across South Wales (UK). Over 95% of particles were fibres, and concentrations in samples increased with urban land cover. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy identified multiple polymers, including polyester, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and vinyl chloride copolymers. Although characterized by uncertainty, steady‐state models using energetic data along with plastic concentration in prey and excreta suggest that around 200 plastic particles are ingested daily by dippers, but also excreted at rates that suggest transitory throughput. As some of the first evidence revealing that plastic is now being transferred through freshwater food webs, and between adult passerines and their offspring, these data emphasize the need to appraise the potential ecotoxicological consequences of increasing plastic pollution.

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“…Plastic has also been found in birds and fish in French and Swiss waters, with ingestion rates up to 12.5% (Faure et al, 2015). Although available studies (Andrade et al, 2019;Faure et al, 2015;Possatto et al, 2011;Windsor, Tilley, Tyler, & Ormerod et al, 2019) suggest that (macro)plastic ingestion by freshwater fauna is widespread, available data remain scarce in terms of spatial and taxonomic distribution.…”

Section: Ingestionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic debris in rivers

2019

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Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is an emerging environmental risk, as it may negatively impacts ecology, endangers aquatic species, and causes economic damage. Rivers are known to play a crucial role in transporting land‐based plastic waste to the world's oceans, but riverine ecosystems are also directly affected by plastic pollution. To better quantify global plastic pollution transport and to effectively reduce sources and risks, a thorough understanding of origin, transport, fate, and effects of riverine plastic debris is crucial. In this overview paper, we discuss the current scientific state on plastic debris in rivers and evaluate existing knowledge gaps. We present a brief background of plastics, polymer types typically found in rivers, and the risk posed to aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, we elaborate on the origin and fate of riverine plastics, including processes and factors influencing plastic debris transport and its spatiotemporal variation. We present an overview of monitoring and modeling efforts to characterize riverine plastic transport, and give examples of typical values from around the world. Finally, we present an outlook to riverine plastic research. With this paper, we aim to present an inclusive and comprehensive overview of riverine plastic debris research to date and suggest multiple ways forward for future research. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water Quality Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems

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First account of plastic pollution impacting freshwater fishes in the Amazon: Ingestion of plastic debris by piranhas and other serrasalmids with diverse feeding habits

Cited by 155 publications

References 44 publications

Microplastic prevalence in two fish species in two U.S. reservoirs

Microplastic prevalence in two fish species in two U.S. reservoirs

Food web transfer of plastics to an apex riverine predator

Plastic debris in rivers

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