Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX), University of Balearic Islands, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Sep;29(43):65077-65087. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-20298-8. Epub 2022 Apr 28.
Plastic waste and its ubiquity in the oceans represent a growing problem for marine life worldwide. Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the sea and easily enter food webs. Xyrichtys novacula L. is one of the main target species of recreational fishing in the Balearic Islands, Spain. In the present study, the quantity of MPs in gastrointestinal tracts of X. novacula from two different areas (a marine protected area (MPA) and a non-protected area) of Eivissa Island (in the Balearic archipelago) has been assessed, as well as MPs evaluation within the sediment of both areas. The results showed that over 80% of sampled individuals had MPs in their gut with an average of 3.9 ± 4.3 plastic items/individual. Eighty percent of these plastics were fibres, while the rest were fragments. Although the sediment of the non-protected area had a significant higher presence of MPs, no significant differences in the number of MPs were observed in X. novacula from both areas. The µ-FT-IR analysis showed that the main polymers in the sediments were polycarbonate (PC) and polypropylene (PP), whereas in the digestive tract of fish PC, PP, polyethylene, polystyrene and polyester. In conclusion, practically all X. novacula specimens presented MPs in their digestive tract regardless if the capture zone was in a MPAs or not. These results highlight the ubiquity of MPs in coastal marine areas, and further studies might be necessary to evaluate further implications of MP presence in this species.
塑料废物及其在海洋中的普遍存在，是全球海洋生物面临的一个日益严重的问题。微塑料（MPs）在海洋中无处不在，很容易进入食物链。 Novaculina xyrichtys 是西班牙巴利阿里群岛休闲渔业的主要目标物种之一。在本研究中，评估了来自伊维萨岛（巴利阿里群岛）两个不同区域（一个海洋保护区（MPA）和一个非保护区）的 X. novacula 胃肠道中 MPs 的数量，以及这两个区域沉积物中的 MPs 评估。结果表明，超过 80%的采样个体的肠道中存在 MPs，平均每个个体有 3.9±4.3 个塑料物品。其中 80%的塑料是纤维，其余的是碎片。虽然非保护区的沉积物中 MPs 的存在显著更高，但两个区域的 X. novacula 中 MPs 的数量没有显著差异。µ-FT-IR 分析表明，沉积物中的主要聚合物是聚碳酸酯（PC）和聚丙烯（PP），而在鱼类的消化道中则是 PC、PP、聚乙烯、聚苯乙烯和聚酯。总之，几乎所有的 X. novacula 标本的消化道中都存在 MPs，无论捕捞区域是否在 MPA 内。这些结果强调了 MPs 在沿海海洋地区的普遍存在，可能需要进一步研究来评估 MP 对该物种的进一步影响。
