Microplastic sink that cannot be ignored in chemosynthetic organisms

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Environmental science
• Ecotoxicology

Background:

• Marine microplastic (MP) pollution is a significant global issue.
• Chemoautotrophic ecosystems, like cold seeps, are understudied regarding MP contamination.
• Understanding MP presence in these unique environments is crucial for assessing ecosystem health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate microplastic pollution in dominant species from a South China Sea cold seep.
• To characterize the types and abundance of MPs in selected marine organisms.
• To assess the potential role of cold-seep organisms in MP retention and transport.

Main Methods:

• Collection of dominant species (mussel Gigantidas platifrons, squat lobster Shinkaia crosnieri) from the South China Sea cold seep.
• Quantification and characterization of microplastics within the collected organisms.
• Analysis of MP abundance, morphology (fibrous, transparent), and polymer type (polyester).

Main Results:

• Microplastics were detected in both mussels (0.13 ± 0.04 items/ind.) and squat lobsters (0.17 ± 0.06 items/ind.).
• Fibrous (62.5%) and transparent (45.8%) MPs were predominant, with polyester being the main polymer type (54.2%).
• MP abundance on organisms was approximately 86.5 MPs/m², comparable to benthic environments.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first evidence of microplastic pollution in South China Sea cold-seep species.
• Cold-seep organisms may act as a biological sink for microplastics in these ecosystems.
• Further research is needed to understand the role of cold-seep organisms in regional MP retention and transport.