Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment
Despite concerns about the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), knowledge of MP contamination levels in pelagic squid is lacking. This study investigated the stomach of an ecologically and commercially important but poorly known squid species, the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas, found in the tr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1069124/full |
| _version_ | 1811173220689117184 |
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| author | Yaxin Wang Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen |
| author_facet | Yaxin Wang Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen |
| author_sort | Yaxin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite concerns about the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), knowledge of MP contamination levels in pelagic squid is lacking. This study investigated the stomach of an ecologically and commercially important but poorly known squid species, the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas, found in the tropical and Southern temperate Pacific. We examined the characteristics and spatial distribution of MPs in fifty D. gigas (16.0–37.8 cm mantle length) and assessed potential MP pollution risks. MPs were detected in 50.0% of specimens and had an average abundance of 0.88 ± 1.12 items/individual and 0.24 ± 0.36 items/g stomach weight, and were sized 58.42–2,944.85 μm. The MPs were dominated by polyethylene terephthalate (31.82%) in polymer type, fragments (54.55%) and fibers (43.18%) in shape, and blue (59.59%) in color. All specimens could be evaluated as low risk. No statistically significant correlations were found between the MP abundances and D. gigas stomach weight, stomach fullness index, distance from the coast, and mantle length. While regression analyses showed that fuller stomachs contained larger MPs. Spatial variations in shape and polymer composition suggest that low-density fibrous MPs could be easily transported offshore by upwelling and/or ocean currents. These results indicate intraspecific variation in D. gigas MP contaminants and underscore the need to assess the potential site-specific ecotoxicological consequences of increased plastic pollution to pelagic squid. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:44:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78dd424147884d3bbb26bf805ab7b0af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:44:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-78dd424147884d3bbb26bf805ab7b0af2023-02-03T06:02:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2023-02-011110.3389/fenvs.2023.10691241069124Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessmentYaxin Wang0Xinjun Chen1Xinjun Chen2Xinjun Chen3Xinjun Chen4College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaCollege of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, ChinaNational Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, ChinaDespite concerns about the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), knowledge of MP contamination levels in pelagic squid is lacking. This study investigated the stomach of an ecologically and commercially important but poorly known squid species, the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas, found in the tropical and Southern temperate Pacific. We examined the characteristics and spatial distribution of MPs in fifty D. gigas (16.0–37.8 cm mantle length) and assessed potential MP pollution risks. MPs were detected in 50.0% of specimens and had an average abundance of 0.88 ± 1.12 items/individual and 0.24 ± 0.36 items/g stomach weight, and were sized 58.42–2,944.85 μm. The MPs were dominated by polyethylene terephthalate (31.82%) in polymer type, fragments (54.55%) and fibers (43.18%) in shape, and blue (59.59%) in color. All specimens could be evaluated as low risk. No statistically significant correlations were found between the MP abundances and D. gigas stomach weight, stomach fullness index, distance from the coast, and mantle length. While regression analyses showed that fuller stomachs contained larger MPs. Spatial variations in shape and polymer composition suggest that low-density fibrous MPs could be easily transported offshore by upwelling and/or ocean currents. These results indicate intraspecific variation in D. gigas MP contaminants and underscore the need to assess the potential site-specific ecotoxicological consequences of increased plastic pollution to pelagic squid.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1069124/fulldosidicus gigaspelagic squidspatial variationstomachrisk assessmenteastern tropical pacific ocean |
| spellingShingle | Yaxin Wang Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Xinjun Chen Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment Frontiers in Environmental Science dosidicus gigas pelagic squid spatial variation stomach risk assessment eastern tropical pacific ocean |
| title | Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment |
| title_full | Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment |
| title_short | Microplastics in a pelagic squid (Dosidicus gigas) from the Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Characteristics, spatial variation, and preliminary risk assessment |
| title_sort | microplastics in a pelagic squid dosidicus gigas from the eastern tropical pacific ocean characteristics spatial variation and preliminary risk assessment |
| topic | dosidicus gigas pelagic squid spatial variation stomach risk assessment eastern tropical pacific ocean |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1069124/full |
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