Abstract
Microplastics have been documented in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the world. However, few studies have investigated microplastics in freshwater fish diets. In this study, water samples and three trophic levels of a freshwater food web were investigated for microplastic presence: amphipods (Gammarus lacustris), Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Microplastics and other anthropogenic materials were documented in water samples, amphipods, and fish, then confirmed using FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) and Raman spectroscopy. Our findings confirmed the presence of microplastics and other anthropogenic materials in three trophic levels of a freshwater food web in a high-elevation lake in a national park, which corroborates recent studies implicating the global distribution of microplastics. This study further illustrates the need for global action regarding the appropriate manufacturing, use, and disposal of plastics to minimize the effects of plastics on the environment.
Highlights
Anthropogenic materials infiltrate our environment at an alarming rate, including in some of the most remote locations on earth; from diets of freshwater fish in the Amazon [1]to waters of the Arctic region [2]
We found microplastics in the water and organisms of Yellowstone Lake, including the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, a species of conservation concern
Little research has investigated the presence of microplastics in remote freshwater systems, and even fewer studies have investigated microplastic presence in freshwater fish or invertebrate diets [16]
Summary
Anthropogenic materials infiltrate our environment at an alarming rate, including in some of the most remote locations on earth; from diets of freshwater fish in the Amazon [1]to waters of the Arctic region [2]. Microplastics, which are particles less than 5 mm in size, have been a focus in recent environmental pollution research. Microplastics come in many colors and shapes, sometimes originating from degrading plastic debris [3]. Atmospheric transportation, and harmful health implications associated with microplastics have led to an increase in research of this phenomenon. Microplastics pose a major risk to the environment, with bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems [4] that has been shown to transfer among trophic levels [5]. Exposure to microplastics has been shown to negatively affect physiology [6,7], feeding behavior [8], and fitness [9]
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