In situ ingestion of microfibres by meiofauna from sandy beaches.
Microfibres are widespread contaminants in marine environments across the globe. Detecting in situ ingestion of microfibres by small marine organisms is necessary to understand their potential accumulation in marine food webs and their role in marine pollution. We have examined the gut contents of meiofauna from six sandy beaches in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. Out of twenty taxonomic groups, three species of the common sandy beach annelid Saccocirrus displayed in situ ingestion of microfibres in all sites. Laboratory observations showed that species of Saccocirrus are able to egest microfibres with no obvious physical injury. We suggest that their non-selective microphagous suspension-feeding behaviour makes Saccocirrus more prone to ingest microfibres. Although microfibres are rapidly egested with no apparent harm, there is still the potential for trophic transfer into marine food webs through predation of Saccocirrus.
Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), 11030-400 Santos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gusmao.lfm@gmail.com.
Felipe
F
Gusmão
University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Biological Institute (IB), Zoological Museum "Prof. Dr. Adão José Cardoso", Brazil; Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; Benthos Lab, Centre for Marine Studies, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: maik2dd@gmail.com.
Maikon Di
MD
Domenico
Departamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, R. Monteiro Lobato, 255, 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ceamaral@unicamp.br.
A Cecilia Z
ACZ
Amaral
Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; Italian National Research Council, Institute of Ecosystems Study, Largo, Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Italy. Electronic address: amartinez.ull@gmail.com.
Alejandro
A
Martínez
Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: brett.gonzalez@bio.ku.dk.
Brett C
BC
Gonzalez
Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: kworsaae@bio.ku.dk.
Katrine
K
Worsaae
Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Av. Italia, km 8 - Carreiros Rio Grande - RS, 96201-900, Brazil. Electronic address: julianasul@gmail.com.
Juliana A
JA
Ivar do Sul
Benthos Lab, Centre for Marine Studies, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: lana@ufpr.br.
Paulo da
PD
Cunha Lana
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D044822:Biodiversity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D020387:Food Chain; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D010969:Plastics; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000502:physiology*
D010969:Plastics
Annelida; Interstitial; Microfibres; Microplastics; Saccocirrus