Widespread microplastic pollution across the Caribbean Sea confirmed using queen conch

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Ecotoxicology

Background:

• The Caribbean Sea faces high plastic pollution levels, with microplastics posing an emerging threat to marine ecosystems.
• Limited data exists on microplastic distribution in marine environments, particularly in water columns and benthic substrates.
• Microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms, leading to potential ecological impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify marine microplastic levels in the Wider Caribbean.
• To assess the suitability of queen conch (Aliger gigas) feces as a non-lethal indicator of microplastic pollution.
• To investigate microplastic abundance and types across eleven sampling sites.

Main Methods:

• Feces were collected from 175 queen conch across eleven sites in the Wider Caribbean.
• Microplastics were extracted using 30% peroxide to degrade organic matter over 48 hours.
• Analysis of microplastics was performed using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• Microplastics were detected in the feces of all sampled queen conch.
• Microplastic abundance varied significantly among sites, with no clear geographical pattern.
• Fibers (1000–1500 μm) were the predominant microplastic type, constituting 60–98% of all particles.

Conclusions:

• Queen conch feces provide a viable method for monitoring benthic microplastic pollution.
• Microplastic contamination is pervasive throughout the marine benthos of the Wider Caribbean.
• Further research is needed to understand the ecological implications of widespread microplastic ingestion by marine fauna.