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Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Bird Embryo Development by Hatching without Eggshell

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Published on: August 14, 2021

Prey-size plastics are invading larval fish nurseries.

Jamison M Gove¹, Jonathan L Whitney^2,3, Margaret A McManus⁴

¹Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818; jamison.gove@noaa.gov.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|November 13, 2019

Summary

Ocean surface slicks serve as vital nurseries for larval fish, concentrating prey and fish populations. However, these critical habitats also accumulate plastics, leading to widespread ingestion by young marine life.

Keywords:

larval fish microplastics nursery habitat surface slicks

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Published on: July 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Marine biology
Oceanography
Ecology

Background:

Larval fish inhabit the ocean surface, a critical stage influenced by environmental conditions.
Surface slicks are common ocean features, yet their role as nurseries for larval fish is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the ecological significance of surface slicks as nurseries for larval fish.
To assess the abundance of prey and larval fish in slicks compared to ambient waters.
To determine the prevalence of plastic ingestion by larval fish in slicks.

Main Methods:

Field surveys in Hawai'i to sample larval fish, plankton, and plastics in surface slicks and ambient waters.
Analysis of larval fish size, development, and gut contents for plastic ingestion.
Ecosystem-scale estimation of slick habitat use by larval fish and plastics.

Main Results:

Surface slicks showed significantly higher densities of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and larval fish (8.1-fold).
Larval fish in slicks were larger and more developed, indicating physiological benefits from increased prey.
Slicks disproportionately accumulated plastics (60-fold higher ratio to prey), with 8.6% of slick-caught larval fish having ingested plastics.

Conclusions:

Surface slicks are crucial, yet vulnerable, nurseries supporting a large proportion of larval fish in coastal ecosystems.
Plastic pollution in slicks poses a significant threat to larval fish survival and potentially to fisheries.
Larval fish ingestion of plastics exacerbates existing threats to marine ecosystems and fisheries productivity.