Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems, Department of Oceanography, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Av. Arquitetura S/N, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco 50740-550, Brazil.
Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems, Department of Oceanography, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Av. Arquitetura S/N, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco 50740-550, Brazil.
Sci Total Environ. 2019 Mar 10;655:292-304. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.229. Epub 2018 Nov 16.
This study assessed the seasonal patterns of habitat utilization, feeding ecology and microplastic contamination in different ontogenetic phases of sympatric snooks (Centropomus undecimalis and C. mexicanus) inhabiting a tropical estuary. More than 50% of snooks, in all ontogenetic phases, ingested microplastics (1.5 ± 0.1 and 1.4 ± 0.1 particles ind). Juveniles migrated to nursery grounds in the upper estuary, during the early dry (C. undecimalis 6.5 ± 2.8 ind) (p < 0.01) and early rainy seasons (C. mexicanus 4.1 ± 1.9 ind). There, they fed mostly on invertebrates (Polychaeta) (p < 0.01), and became contaminated by microplastics (C. undecimalis: 0.8 ± 0.4 particles ind; C. mexicanus: 1.7 ± 0.5 particles ind). Sub-adults of both species forage principally in the estuarine habitats after shifting their diet from invertebrates (shrimps) in the upper reaches (1806.4 ± 1729.6 mg ind) to pelagic fishes (R. bahiensis) in seaward habitats (2507.7 ± 1758.4 mg ind). During feeding continues the contamination by microplastics (3.1 ± 0.8 part. ind). Adults use the adjacent coastal as feeding and spawning grounds during the rainy season. In this phase, snooks are mostly piscivorous (R. bahiensis: up to 5303.8 ± 3213.4 mg ind), but also ingest penaeid shrimp as complementary item (up to 175.9 ± 156.7). Microplastics contamination rates increased towards the adult phase, with maximum contamination coinciding with peaks of fish ingestion, suggesting trophic transfer of microplastics. The lower estuary and adjacent coastal zone were important contamination sites, especially during the rainy season (up to 3.1 ± 0.8 part. ind) (p < 0.01), when fishery activities is intense and river basin runoff increases. Consequently, the availability of microplastics is higher during this time of year in the lower portion of the estuary. Snooks had similar prey preferences, but the use of different habitats along the life cycle of each species avoids overlaps in estuarine use and minimizes competition.
本研究评估了栖息在热带河口的共生鲻鱼（Centropomus undecimalis 和 C. mexicanus）不同发育阶段的栖息地利用、摄食生态和微塑料污染的季节性模式。超过 50%的鲻鱼，在所有发育阶段，都摄入了微塑料（1.5±0.1 和 1.4±0.1 个颗粒/ind）。幼鱼在早干季（C. undecimalis 6.5±2.8 ind）（p<0.01）和早雨季（C. mexicanus 4.1±1.9 ind）迁移到上游河口的育雏地。在那里，它们主要以无脊椎动物（多毛类）为食（p<0.01），并受到微塑料的污染（C. undecimalis：0.8±0.4 个颗粒/ind；C. mexicanus：1.7±0.5 个颗粒/ind）。两种鱼的亚成鱼在从上游的无脊椎动物（虾）转变为近海栖息地的浮游鱼类（R. bahiensis）（2507.7±1758.4 mg ind）后，主要在河口栖息地觅食。在觅食过程中，微塑料的污染仍在继续（3.1±0.8 个颗粒/ind）。成鱼在雨季利用相邻的沿海地区作为觅食和产卵地。在这个阶段，鲻鱼主要是肉食性的（R. bahiensis：高达 5303.8±3213.4 mg ind），但也摄入糠虾作为补充食物（高达 175.9±156.7）。微塑料的污染率随着成鱼阶段的增加而增加，最大污染与鱼类摄食峰值同时出现，表明微塑料的营养转移。下游河口和相邻的沿海地区是重要的污染地点，特别是在雨季（高达 3.1±0.8 个颗粒/ind）（p<0.01），此时渔业活动活跃，流域径流量增加。因此，在河口的下游部分，每年的这个时候微塑料的供应更高。鲻鱼有相似的猎物偏好，但在每种鱼的生命周期中使用不同的栖息地可以避免在河口使用上的重叠，并最大限度地减少竞争。
