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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Data Collection on Marine Litter Ingestion in Sea Turtles and Thresholds for Good Environmental Status
Published on: May 18, 2019
Plastic litter transfer from sediments towards marine trophic webs: A case study on holothurians
Monia Renzi1, Andrea Blašković1, Giulia Bernardi2
1Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia, 32, 58015 Orbetello, GR, Italy.
Abstract:
This study estimates for the very first time plastic litter levels in sea cucumbers (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) sampled in situ and their intakes from sediments in three different rocky bottom habitats (slides, cliff, banks) settled in Salina Island (Aeolian Archipelago). Macroplastic were never recorded while meso- and microplastics were identified in all sediment (81-438 items/kg d.w.) and animal samples (1.8-22 items/ind.). Plastic intakes by sea cucumbers resulted frequently associated to the size range included within 100-2000 μm. Over than 70% of ingested plastic litter is represented by the size fraction >500 μm. Sediment/animals ratios % are included 2.7 ± 2.0% in studied habitats with a selective intake of fragments occurring in slides. Furthermore, results support the occurrence of selective ingestion of plastic litter by holothurians in natural environments underlining the role of these species in microplastic transfer from abiotic towards biotic compartments of the marine trophic web.
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