Tracing the route: Using stable isotope analysis to understand microplastic pathways through the pelagic-neritic food web of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean)

This study provides a pilot investigation of the relationship between microplastic ingestion and the trophic ecology of three pelagic fish species (Engraulis encrasicolus, Scomber scombrus, and Trachurus trachurus) from Anzio coast, Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Stable isotope analysis has...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2023-08, Vol.885, p.163875-163875, Article 163875
Main Authors: Valente, Tommaso, Costantini, Maria Letizia, Careddu, Giulio, Berto, Daniela, Piermarini, Raffaella, Rampazzo, Federico, Sbrana, Alice, Silvestri, Cecilia, Ventura, Daniele, Matiddi, Marco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidental ingestion
Animals
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Fishes
Food Chain
Isotopes - analysis
Marine litter
Mediterranean Sea
Microplastic ingestion
Microplastics
Pelagic fish
Plastics - analysis
Trophic level
Trophic transfer
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:This study provides a pilot investigation of the relationship between microplastic ingestion and the trophic ecology of three pelagic fish species (Engraulis encrasicolus, Scomber scombrus, and Trachurus trachurus) from Anzio coast, Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Stable isotope analysis has been performed to determine the trophic position and the isotopic niche of the three species. Then, data on the occurrence, abundance, and diversity of ingested microplastics have been analyzed considering the observed foraging patterns. The detected differences in the estimated trophic position (E. encrasicolus = 3.08 ± 0.18; S. scombrus = 3.57 ± 0.21; T. trachurus = 4.07 ± 0.21), together with the absence of overlap in the isotopic niches confirm that the three examined species cover different ecological roles within the coastal-pelagic food web. Results from the analysis of ingested microplastics show that the trophic position has no remarkable effects on the incidence of microplastic ingestion, with no significant differences detected in terms of both frequency of occurrence and number of ingested microplastics per individual. However, differences among species emerge when considering the diversity of ingested microplastic types in terms of shape, size, color, and polymer composition. Species at higher trophic levels have shown to ingest a greater diversity of microplastics, including a significant increase in the size of the ingested particles (median surface area: 0.011 mm2 in E. encrasicolus; 0.021 mm2 in S. scombrus; 0.036 mm2 in T. trachurus). The ingestion of larger microplastics might be due to the larger gape sizes but also to active selection mechanisms, likely stimulated by the similarity of these particles to natural or potential prey of both S. scombrus and T. trachurus. Overall, this study suggests that microplastic ingestion can be affected by the different trophic position of fish species, providing new insights about the impact of microplastic contamination on the pelagic community. [Display omitted] •Trophic position has no remarkable effects on microplastic ingestion rates.•Trophic level affects the variety of microplastics ingested by different species.•The ingestion of microfibers and small fragments can be accidental.•Trophic transfer is a potential route for microplastics in the pelagic food web.•Ingestion of larger microplastics can be due to intentional ingestion events.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163875