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This article examines the uptake of microplastic in three langoustine populations around the coast of Scotland, UK and proposes possible reasons for differences between and within them.
Over the past twenty years microplastic pollution has been recorded in all major marine habitats, and is now considered to be of high environmental concern. Correspondingly, the number of reports of microplastic ingestion by marine species is increasing. Despite this, there are still relatively few studies which address the uptake and retention of microplastic in wild populations. Langoustine, Nephrops norvegicus, sampled from the Clyde Sea Area, have previously been seen to contain large aggregations of microplastic fibres. The large proportion of contaminated individuals and size of the microplastic aggregations observed suggests that Nephrops are at high risk of microplastic ingestion. In this study the levels of ingested microplastic in populations of N. norvegicus from the Clyde Sea Area, North Minch and North Sea are examined. Animals in the near-shore, Clyde Sea population showed both a higher percentage of microplastic containing individuals and much greater weights of microplastic retained in the gut. N. norvegicusrevealed that only a small percentage of individuals from the North Sea and Minch contained microplastic, predominantly single strands.
An expanded sample from the Clyde Sea Area was examined to identify the factors influencing microplastic retention. This revealed that males, larger individuals, and animals that had recently moulted contained lower levels of microplastic. The presence of identified food items in the gut was not seen to correlate with microplastic loads. Observations of microplastic in the shed stomach lining of recently moulted individuals and the lack of aggregations in wild-caught individuals suggests that ecdysis is the primary route of microplastic loss by N.norvegicus.
Therefore the large aggregations observed in wild-caught animals are believed to build up over extended periods as a result of the complex gut structure of N.norvegicus.
Read the article (external link to Journal website)
Past event / Researchers presented the SAMHE project's work with schools at this event bringing together policymakers and academics to address air pollution.
Perspective / This op-ed offers key insights into a new report featuring contributions from SEI York and SEI Africa, originally published in The Conversation.
Perspective / "Scientists, teachers and pupils are working together to evaluate air quality in UK classrooms" writes Sarah West in Air Quality News Magazine.
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