Journal
PEERJ
Volume 1, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
PEERJ INC
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.184
Keywords
North Pacific Subtropical Gyre; Marine debris; Plastic pollution; Lepas pacifica; Lepas anatifera; Gooseneck barnacles; Ingestion; Microplastic
Categories
Funding
- University of California Ship Funds
- Project Kaisei/Ocean Voyages Institute
- AWIS-San Diego
- NSF IGERT [0333444]
- California Department of Boating and Waterways [05-106-115]
- NSF GK-12 [0841407]
- Petersen Charitable Foundation
- NSF
- Sea Education Association
- Jim & Kris McMillan, Jeffrey & Marcy Krinsk, Lyn & Norman Lear, Ellis Wyer
- Directorate For Geosciences
- Division Of Ocean Sciences [1026607] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Division Of Graduate Education
- Direct For Education and Human Resources [0841407] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Substantial quantities of small plastic particles, termed microplastic, have been found in many areas of the world ocean, and have accumulated in particularly high densities on the surface of the subtropical gyres. While plastic debris has been documented on the surface of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) since the early 1970s, the ecological implications remain poorly understood. Organisms associated with floating objects, termed the rafting assemblage, are an important component of the NPSG ecosystem. These objects are often dominated by abundant and fast-growing gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.), which predate on plankton and larval fishes at the sea surface. To assess the potential effects of microplastic on the rafting community, we examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 385 barnacles collected from the NPSG for evidence of plastic ingestion. We found that 33.5% of the barnacles had plastic particles present in their gastrointestinal tract, ranging from one plastic particle to a maximum of 30 particles. Particle ingestion was positively correlated to capitulum length, and no blockage of the stomach or intestines was observed. The majority of ingested plastic was polyethylene, with polypropylene and polystyrene also present. Our results suggest that barnacle ingestion of microplastic is relatively common, with unknown trophic impacts on the rafting community and the NPSG ecosystem.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available