Plastic ingestion by fish: A global assessment

Azevedo‐Santos, Valter M.; Gonçalves, Geslaine Rafaela Lemos; Manoel, Pedro Sartori; Andrade, Marcelo C.; Lima, Felipe Pontieri de; Pelicice, Fernando Mayer

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.112994

Cited by 91 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Overall, we tallied >50 additional species with plastic ingestion than previously reported (Azevedo‐Santos et al, 2019; Markic et al, 2019). While other recent reviews provided important summaries of the pervasive issue of marine plastics in fish diets, we tested mechanistic hypotheses on the patterns and drivers of plastic consumption and quantified the pace of plastic incursion into marine food webs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following intensifying public pressure, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) reviewed plastic ingestion by marine fish in 2016 and identified 89 species that ingest plastic (GESAMP, 2016). Reviews published in 2019 saw these numbers triple, indicating that research interest, and possibly the scope and intensity of the problem, is mounting (Azevedo‐Santos et al, 2019; Markic et al, 2019). However, as studies have become increasingly common, so too have methods of detection improved (Provencher et al, 2019, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several recent studies have reviewed the available data on fish (Azevedo‐Santos et al, 2019; Lusher et al, 2017; Markic et al, 2019). While these references summarize the available data, they do not provide synthetic analyses to understand drivers of plastic ingestion by marine fish.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plastic ingestion by marine fish is widespread and increasing

Savoca

McInturf

Hazen

2021

Global Change Biology

177

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Plastic pollution has pervaded almost every facet of the biosphere, yet we lack an understanding of consumption risk by marine species at the global scale. To address this, we compile data from research documenting plastic debris ingestion by marine fish, totaling 171,774 individuals of 555 species. Overall, 386 marine fish species have ingested plastic debris including 210 species of commercial importance. However, 148 species studied had no records of plastic consumption, suggesting that while this evolutionary trap is widespread, it is not yet universal. Across all studies that accounted for microplastics, the incidence rate of plastic ingested by fish was 26%. Over the last decade this incidence has doubled, increasing by 2.4 ± 0.4% per year. This is driven both by increasing detection of smaller sized particles as a result of improved methodologies, as well as an increase in fish consuming plastic. Further, we investigated the role of geographic, ecological, and behavioral factors in the ingestion of plastic across species. These analyses revealed that the abundance of plastic in surface waters was positively correlated to plastic ingestion. Demersal species are more likely to ingest plastic in shallow waters; in contrast, pelagic species were most likely to consume plastic below the mixed layer. Mobile predatory species had the highest likelihood to ingest plastic; similarly, we found a positive relationship between trophic level and plastic ingestion. We also find evidence that surface ingestion‐deep sea egestion of microplastics by mesopelagic myctophids is likely a key mechanism for the export of microplastics from the surface ocean to the seafloor, a sink for marine debris. These results elucidate the role of ecology and biogeography underlying plastic ingestion by marine fish and point toward species and regions in urgent need of study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plastic ingestion by marine fish is widespread and increasing

Savoca

McInturf

Hazen

2021

Global Change Biology

177

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“…In the rivers, once fragmented into smaller particles, these polymers can be ingested, intentionally or accidentally, by many animals, especially the ichthyofauna (Lusher et al 2013, Cardozo et al 2018, Azevedo-Santos et al 2019. In Brazil, the presence of plastic in the digestive tract of fish was first recorded in estuarine ecosystems (Possatto et al 2011, Dantas et al 2012, Ramos et al 2012 and then in freshwater ones (Silva-Cavalcanti et al 2017.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First record of plastic ingestion by an important commercial native fish (Prochilodus lineatus) in the middle Tietê River basin, Southeast Brazil

et al. 2020

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This is the first study to report the plastic ingestion by Prochilodus lineatus in Brazilian fluvial ecosystems. We examined 32 individuals collected in two contrasting lotic environments: the highly polluted Tietê River and its much less degraded tributary, Peixe River. Most individuals, 71.88%, contained plastic in their digestive tract, with averages of 3.26 and 9.37 particles per individual in the tributary and main river, respectively. The blue color was predominant among the observed plastic particles and size ranged from 0.18 to 12.35 mm. Plastic ingestion must be accidental, predominantly, since the species has an iliophagous eating habit. As this species is regionally the most important fishery resource, potential adverse effects of this type of contamination may be transferred to human consuming populations. Mitigation measures against pollution are urgent in the Tietê River basin.

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“…This review, presents the most recent updated information on documented cases of plastic ingestion and entanglement in marine species. In recent years many reviews have been published focusing on either entanglement or ingestion and different taxon groups such as seabirds (Ryan 2018;Battisti et al 2019;Jagiello et al 2019), marine mammals (Fossi et al 2018;Stelfox & Hudgins 2015), turtles (Staffieri et al 2019), fish (Azevedo-Santos et al 2019;Markic et al 2019;Parton et al 2019) and zooplankton (Botterell et al 2019). The number of affected species in these studies vary, as different criteria for species selection were applied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Message in a belly : Plastic pathways in Fulmars

Kühn¹

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Plastic ingestion by fish: A global assessment

Cited by 91 publications

References 19 publications

Plastic ingestion by marine fish is widespread and increasing

Plastic ingestion by marine fish is widespread and increasing

First record of plastic ingestion by an important commercial native fish (Prochilodus lineatus) in the middle Tietê River basin, Southeast Brazil

Message in a belly : Plastic pathways in Fulmars

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