Detritivores Research Articles

Effects of different hydrological conditions on the taxonomic structure and functional traits of mollusk communities in a large floodplain wetland.

Floodplain wetlands are critical to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the ecological integrity of river networks. However, increasing drought severity and frequency caused by climate change can reduce floodplain wetlands' resistance and recovery capacities. Mollusks, which are common inhabitants of floodplain wetlands, are among the most vulnerable species to drought. However, the response of mollusk communities to drought has received little attention. Here, we investigated how the structure and functional traits of mollusk communities changed in response to varying hydrological conditions, including a flash drought (FD) in the Poyang Lake floodplain wetland. Our findings showed that FD strongly reduced mollusk abundance and biomass, decreased both α- and β-diversity, and resulted in the extinction of bivalve taxa. A sudden shift in community trait structure was discovered due to the extinction of many species. These traits, which include deposit feeding, crawling, scraping, aerial respiration, and dormancy, help mollusks survive in FD and tolerate completely dry out of their Changhuchi habitat. Finally, we discovered that dissolved oxygen was an important controlling variable for mollusk communities during drought. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the management and conservation of floodplain wetland biodiversity in the context of increasing drought frequency and intensity.

Salmon farming alters the structure and functioning of Norwegian maerl bed communities

Abstract Effluents resulting from fish farming activities can alter the structure and functioning of benthic ecosystems. In Norway, recent technological advances within the salmon industry have facilitated the expansion of aquaculture into shallower locations, leading to additional pressures upon coastal habitats. Maerl/rhodolith beds are important bioengineers in coastal waters—supporting highly diverse associated macrofaunal communities—and are likely to be particularly at risk. This study aims to investigate the environmental changes induced by fish farms in their vicinity and their impact on the structure and functioning of maerl bed macrofaunal communities. High dissolved nutrients and organic enrichment levels were observed close to the cages, associated with lower live maerl cover. Overall, the most substantial impact of salmon farms on macrofaunal communities was observed within 100 m from the cages. Nevertheless, changes in the structure and functioning of assemblages were evidenced up to 300 m. In the vicinity of the cages, communities were characterized by the dominance of endobenthic subsurface deposit feeders and opportunistic species, notably the polychaetes Chaetozone sp., Capitella sp. and Scoloplos armiger. Conversely, sites situated farther away from the cages exhibited higher abundances of epibenthic taxa, including crawlers, grazers and species sensitive to organic enrichment. Sites unaffected by the presence of fish farms were described by high abundances of the ophiuroid Ophiura robusta, the polychaete Proclea graffi and ostracods, reflecting more favourable environmental conditions. Such changes in macrofaunal communities highlight the vulnerability of maerl beds to the impacts of aquaculture, thus emphasizing the importance of rigorous site selection when establishing new fish farming facilities.

Meiobenthos and ocean acidification: Effects on meiobenthic communities inhabiting Mediterranean cold shallow CO2-vents

Ocean acidification is causing major changes in marine ecosystems, with varying levels of impact, depending both on the habitat and the studied organisms. Here, we investigated for the first time the meiobenthos and nematode fauna inhabiting the sediments around Castello Aragonese (Ischia, Italy), characterized by variable pH values due to coastal volcanic CO2 venting. In this scenario, nematode functional diversity changed according to different pH levels and grain size: maturity index was higher at most acidic stations and trophic composition spanned from the dominance of predators in the acidic stations, to the high abundance of non-selective deposit feeders and epistrate feeders in the ambient-pH stations. Overall, the present study revealed a relatively high tolerance of meiobenthos and nematodes to lower pH conditions. However, an in-depth analysis of nematode fauna showed differences in their assemblages at different pH levels with few nematode genera rather adapted to the extreme environmental conditions at the acidic stations.

Evaluation of the chronic toxicity of bisphenol A and bisphenol AF to sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus after long-term single and combined exposure at environmental relevant concentration

Bisphenols are emerging endocrine disrupting pollutant, and several studies have reported that they are already ubiquitous in various environmental matrices and intend to deposit in sediment. The primary sources of bisphenols are river and sewage discharge. Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), a typical deposit feeder, is one of the most important commercial marine species in Aisa. However, the effects of the bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues bisphenol AF (BPAF) on sea cucumber was unclear. In this study, we carried out field survey in major sea cucumber farming areas in northern China, with the aim of determining which bisphenol analogue is the major bisphenol contamination in this aquaculture area. The results showed that the presence of BPAF was detected in four sampling sites (Dalian, Tangshan, Laizhou, and Longpan). The mean level of BPAF in Laizhou sediment samples was the highest which reached to 9.007 ± 4.702 μ g/kg. Among the seawater samples, the BPAF only have been detected in the samples collected at Longpan. (0.011 ± 0.003 μ g/L). Furthermore, we conducted an experiment to evaluate the single and combined toxicity of BPA and BPAF on sea cucumbers. The concentrations were informed by the findings based on the results of field research. (0.1, 1.0, and 10 μ g/L). After exposure, the body weight gain, and specific growth rate showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). We observed the histological alterations in respiratory tree of treated sea cucumbers including the fusion and detachment of lining epithelial tissue, and increase of lumen space. However, the catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) activity was not significantly changed (P > 0.05). We evaluated the effects of BPA and BPAF through calculating the integrated biomarker response index (IBR), and the results indicated that the toxicity of combined treatment was higher than single treatment. Additionally, BPAF exposure to A. japonicus was more toxic than BPA.

Spatial and temporal recruitment variability of sandy subtidal megabenthic populations on an open coastline influenced by a tsunami caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

AbstractThe spatial distribution and size structure of two infaunal filter‐feeding bivalves, that is, Sakhalin surf clam Spisula sachalinensis (Schrenck, 1862) and dwarf sunray surf clam Mactra crossei (Dunker, 1877), and an epibenthic deposit feeder, namely the sand dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis (A. Agassiz, 1864), were investigated on an open sandy beach in northern Japan after the tsunami caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Settlement of S. sachalinensis was relatively abundant in the 2011‐ and 2012‐year classes, but then substantially decreased until the early months of 2013. The 0+‐year‐old distribution was associated mainly with a depth gradient and weakly with the median grain size of the sediment. Mactra crossei had (1) an inverse trend in long‐shore variation in abundance at 2+ years of age and (2) later‐post‐settlement processes that regulated its population dynamics, compared to those of S. sachalinensis. The 2010‐year classes for both Mactridae species survived until 2+ years of age, although their abundance showed a high level of spatial variation. Scaphechinus mirabilis showed fine‐scale spatial variation in their recruitment dynamics. The cross‐shore distribution of S. mirabilis showed a clear ontogenetic shift from shallow to deep water. The cross‐shore distribution of small S. mirabilis (<40 mm in test diameter) overlapped that of the juvenile S. sachalinensis, but their interaction was unclear. Overall, the level of spatial and temporal recruitment variation was relatively high in each species. However, the tsunami has scarcely influenced the cross‐shore distribution and population structure of each species.

Response of Mediterranean Sea bivalves to Pliocene–Pleistocene environmental changes

AbstractThe Mediterranean Sea is recognized as a hotspot of marine biodiversity. Analysing its past biodiversity can help in understanding species' response to climate change. We built a species‐level dataset of bivalve occurrences across the Zanclean–Calabrian interval, a time characterized by significant changes in climate, and by bivalve extinctions. The dataset includes more than 400 species distributed from the eastern to the western Mediterranean Sea. We measured changes in richness and turnover through time, for the entire dataset, and for different palaeoenvironments and combinations of tiering and feeding categories to test if specific environmental conditions and different lifestyles were correlated to species extinction or survival through time. We also compared niche breadth, geographical range size, and species abundance of extinct and extant species, to test which of these parameters potentially affected extinction risk. Our results confirm a loss of biodiversity between 3 Ma and the Early Pleistocene, although this loss was less intense and more gradual than previously estimated. We also found significant differences in niche breadth and geographical range size between extinct and extant species. Suspension feeders lost a higher proportion of species and suffered a higher reduction of geographical range compared to infaunal deposit feeders. Species loss was more protracted and higher on the shoreface than on the shelf, which is probably related to the reduction of shallow‐water vegetated environments and to the disaggregation of heterozoan carbonate ramp habitats with cooling and sea‐level drop at the onset of the northern hemisphere glaciation.

KEANEKARAGAMAN GASTROPODA DI PADANG LAMUN PERAIRAN PANTAI DESA RUTONG

Background: Gastropods are included in the mollusk phylum which is one of the non-fish biological resources that has quite high biodiversity. The gastropod community is an important component in the food chain in seagrass beds, where gastropods are detritus feeders. Methods: This research was conducted in seagrass beds in the waters of Rutong Village Beach in June-July 2022, using the quadrant linear transect method. The distance between transects is 25 meters with a total of 5 transect lines, each transect line has 10 plots and the distance between plots is 10 meters. Diversity of gastropods using index index formula, Evenness and Richness. Results: The results of measurements of environmental factors, namely temperature 29; pH 7.8; Salinity 34‰; DO 7.9 μg/l; Gastropod research results obtained 987 individuals consisting of 10 orders, 18 families, 22 general and 34 species. The index value of Diversity (H') is 1,394, the evenness index (E) is 0,395, and the wealth index is 4,786. Conclusion: Environmental factors in the seagrass bed of the coastal waters of Rutong Village are good for sustaining the life of gastropods; The types of gastropods found were 34 species; The Diversity Index (H') is moderate, the Evenness Index (E is low, and the Wealth Index (DMg) is moderate

Growth Performance and Environmental Quality Indices and Biomarkers in a Co-Culture of the European Sea Bass with Filter and Deposit Feeders: A Case Study of an IMTA System

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system comprising co-cultured fed fish and organic extractive species representing three distinct trophic levels as well as the impact and potential utilization of two commercially available fish feeds made up of 35% fish meal (FM) and 20% fish meal (LFM) ingredients, using a multi-indicator assessment approach. Significant alterations were observed in growth performance indicators (GPIs), water and sediment quality indices, toxicity tests and biomarkers within the IMTA system. The fish survival, weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) were higher in the IMTA system with significantly lower feed conversion ratios (FCRs) and higher feed efficiency (FE) in comparison to the fed fish monoculture system. Yet, organic filter feeders displayed 100% survival, and increased shell growth, while deposit feeders exhibited successful survival and significant weight gain. In the comparison between FM-IMTA and LFM-IMTA, fed fish in FM-IMTA showed higher WG, SGR, and FE with lower FCR. Environmental parameters like temperature, oxygen, and nutrient concentrations fluctuated but generally improved in the IMTA system, indicating lower mesotrophic conditions. Sediment fatty acid profiles differed between systems and toxicity assessments, which suggested a lower impact in IMTA and FM-IMTA systems. The sediment microbial community displayed high similarity within IMTA systems and between FM-IMTA and LFM-IMTA. These findings underscore the potential of IMTA systems for sustainable aquaculture, emphasizing improved growth performance and reduced environmental impact, particularly when using fish meal feeds.

Short and decadal impacts of seafloor physical perturbation on the abundances of Lebensspuren ‘traces of life’ in the Peru Basin manganese nodule province

Interest in deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules as an alternative source to onshore mines for various high-technology metals has risen in recent years, as demands and costs have increased. The need for studies to assess its short- and long-term consequences on polymetallic nodule ecosystems is therefore also increasingly prescient. Recent image-based expedition studies have described the temporal impacts on epi-/megafauna seafloor communities across these ecosystems at particular points in time. However, these studies have failed to capture information on large infauna within the sediments or give information on potential transient and temporally limited users of these areas, such as mobile surface deposit feeders or fauna responding to bloom events or food fall depositions. This study uses data from the Peru Basin polymetallic nodule province, where the seafloor was previously disturbed with a plough harrow in 1989 and with an epibenthic sled (EBS) in 2015, to simulate two contrasting possible impact forms of mining disturbance. To try and address the shortfall on information on transient epifauna and infauna use of these various disturbed and undisturbed areas of nodule-rich seafloor, images collected 6 months after the 2015 disturbance event were inspected and all Lebensspuren, ‘traces of life’, were characterized by type (epi- or infauna tracemakers, as well as forming fauna species where possible), along with whether they occurred on undisturbed seafloor or regions disturbed in 1989 or 2015. The results show that epi- and endobenthic Lebensspuren were at least 50% less abundant across both the ploughed and EBS disturbed seafloors. This indicates that even 26 years after disturbance, sediment use by fauna may remain depressed across these areas.

Aratichnus igen. nov. from the Eocene-aged Baronia Formation, Àger Basin, Lleida, Spain

Aratichnus, new ichnogenus, is described from a lower Eocene-aged, tidally reworked sandstone unit (Baronia Formation) near Baronia de Sant Oïsme, Spain. Aratichnus n. igen. is a horizontal, epichnial furrow ranging from simpler forms that display repeating straight to gently curved grooves to more complex serial furrows paralleling each other. Two new ichnospecies are described, Aratichnus hordeicollis n. isp. and Aratichnus apricuscampus n. isp., that encompass the range of morphological variability exhibited by the ichnogenus. A. hordeicollis exhibits ordered, repeating shapes of furrows, while A. apricuscampus exhibits furrows which do not repeat in shape and direction. We interpret Aratichnus n. igen. as a trace fossil made by an interface deposit feeder exploiting a patchy food source in an intertidal environment.

Distribution of microplastics in seafloor sediments and their differential assimilation in nearshore benthic molluscs along the south-west coast of India

Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the nearshore seafloor sediments along the Southwest coast of India and their patterns of accumulation in selected infaunal and epibenthic molluscs with diverse feeding strategies were investigated. Along the 300-km coastal stretch, which is one of the most productive and biodiversity rich regions of the eastern Arabian Sea, notable levels of MP contamination in both sediment (617.7 items/kg dry weight) and molluscs (5.39 items/g) was recorded. The concentration of MPs in sediments also varied seasonally, with a higher prevalence during the post-monsoon season. Among the four molluscan groups studied, the highest MP abundance was recorded among scavenging gastropod Pseudominolia biangulosa (9.13 items/g), followed by microcarnivore scaphopod Tesseracme quadrapicalis (5.96 items/g). In comparison, the suspension feeding bivalve, Anadara hankeyana and deposit feeding clam Jitlada philippinarum had lesser accumulation of MPs (2.98 items/g and 3.50 items/g respectively). The majority of MPs in sediments and within molluscs were less than 250 μm in size (89.14%) and were predominantly fibres and fragments. Chemical characterisation of MPs revealed eleven types of polymers dominated by polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Present study identified positive correlations between ingested MP polymers and the feeding strategies of molluscs. Higher values for the ecological risk assessment indices (PHI, PLI and PERI) in most of the stations indicated the severity of plastic pollution in the region. Molluscs being a major contributor to the benthic food web is also a connecting link to higher trophic levels. Hence understanding the specificity in the MPs accumulation pattern within this group has far reaching significance in utilizing them as potential bioindicators for pollution studies in marine ecosystems.

Influence of wastewater discharge from dredging mariculture pond sediments on the food sources of two intertidal crab species

The present study δ13C, δ15N and fatty acid compositions of two dominant mangrove crabs, Tubuca arcuata and Parasesarma plicatum were compared between a mangrove site frequently receiving dredged wastewater from mariculture ponds and an adjacent reference site, to investigate the impact of wastewater discharge on their diets. A laboratory experiment was also conducted to further test how their diets changed with the wastewater input. The result showed no significant change in the δ13C while clear 15N enrichment of crabs in association with the wastewater discharge. Changes in 15N signature and fatty acid composition of the crabs due to the wastewater discharge indicated that the impact of wastewater discharge was related to crab species, being more apparent on the deposit feeder (T. arcuata) than the herbivorous P. plicatum. The results suggested that the discharge of dredged wastewater into mangroves resulted in the uptake of wastewater-derived materials and nutrients by mangrove crabs.

Biological Characteristics of the Echiura worm Urechis unicinctus

The Echiura worm Urechis unicinctus, is a marine biota which belongs to the annelids. Due to various animals are frequently found in Urechis' tunnels, they are known as the innkeeper echiuran. Secondary metabolites found in these animals are significant for biological study. The majority of these animals also serve as deposit feeders, gathering detritus from the sea. This short article describes its biological characteristics and functions in order to utilization a marine biota be useful for consumption and biomedicine.

Traços funcionais dos Nematoda são uma boa ferramenta para visualizar uma sucessão ecológica em substratos artificiais em um reservatório do semiárido brasileiro?

Abstract Aim The Brazilian tropical semiarid is a biome with small freshwater ecosystems, often intermittent, acting as a mosaic in constant transformation between dry and rainy seasons. Meiobenthic communities play crucial roles in these environments, and understanding their colonization and succession processes is essential to comprehend how these organisms’ structure in a defaunated habitat. In addition to the traditional taxonomic approach, functional traits provide valuable insights into the dynamics of these processes. In this study, we tested the following hypotheses: i) although meiofauna consists of microscopic organisms with limited active dispersion, they quickly colonize new substrates, increasing in abundance, richness, and diversity; ii) functional traits of freshwater Nematoda are a good tool for view an early succession on hard artificial substrate in a lentic reservoir. Methods We placed 27 ceramic plates in a reservoir in the Brazilian semiarid and randomly sampled three replicates each week over nine weeks. Weekly differences in community abundance, richness, and diversity were tested with one-way ANOVA and pairwise PERMANOVA. Results Nematoda predominated in the first week, with Rotifera taking over from the second week of the experiment. No differences were observed in the Nematode taxonomic structure over the weeks. There was an increase in the functional complexity of the Nematoda community over time, as indicated by the maturity index and trophic structure. Colonizers/persistents emerged quickly in the first week. Deposit feeders dominated, but an increase in trophic diversity was observed with the growing presence of chewers over the weeks. Conclusions This study highlights that the functional traits of Nematoda represent a robust tool for assessing ecological succession in freshwater lentic environments in the tropical semiarid.

Colonization of Nipa Worms (Namalycastis spp.) Based on Differences in Depth of Placement of Nipah Fronds in Kakap River of West Kalimantan

Namalycastis spp. is deposit feeder animal because it eats by utilizing organic matter and omnivorous. The existence of Namalycastis has been found inhabit naturally decomposing nipa fronds (Nypa fruticans). Data regarding the colonization of Namalycastis are currently not available. The purpose of the study is to discover the first time and the peak of colonizations and the number of individual Namalycastis based on the depth of placement of different nipa fronds in Kakap River Mangrove Area of West Borneo. Sampling was carried out at three depths: 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm for three months within a 10 days collection period. The highest number of Namalycastis individual during the study were found in nipa fronds placed at depth of 0-10 cm is 616 individuals with the highest number found in week 4 of incubation. Soil texture in Sungai Kakap mangrove forest was dominated by dust with C-organic content decreased as the number of individual nipa worms decreased.

Environmental heterogeneity of cold seep by biological trait analysis of marine nematodes at Site F cold seep in South China Sea

Cold seeps provide high environmental heterogeneity for marine benthos. Site F is one of the active cold seeps in the South China Sea. In this study, free-living marine nematode communities were investigated at Site F and the adjacent deep-sea area. A total of 67 genera and 32 families were identified. The mean density at cold seep sites ranged from 13.6 to 181.8 ind./10 cm2, and that at the adjacent deep-sea sites ranged from 36.9 to 301.4 ind./10 cm2. At cold seep sites, the most dominant nematode genera were Desmoscolex, Pierrickia, Sabatieria, Halalaimus, and Dorylaimopsis while at deep-sea sites, the most dominant genera were Retrotheristus, Thalassomonhystera, Desmoscolex, Cobbia, and Halalaimus. Deposit feeders of nematodes were dominant at all sites. Results of biological trait analysis showed that there was high environmental heterogeneity for nematodes at Site F. Water depth, sediment organic matter content, and sand proportion had important influences on nematode communities.

Holothurians play an important role in mitigating the impacts of aquaculture on sediment conditions

As deposit feeders contribute to bioremediation and nutrient recycling in sediments, positively impacting water and sediment quality, holothurians are candidate organisms for multitrophic aquaculture. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Holothuria poli to reduce the environmental footprint of fish farms through a benthocosm experiment. The experimental setup included four benthocosms with holothurians(H+) and four without (H-). The 58-day experiment included two phases: constant organic enrichment and recovery. In order to simulate the organic enrichment sediment conditions under a typical fish farm, a mixture of fish feces and fish feed pellets was added. Results showed that holothurians effectively reduced organic matter and H2S and increased redox, RPD depth and sediment oxygenation, thereby preventing anoxic conditions. Also, during the recovery phase, holothurians facilitated rapid sediment recovery, while the sediments without holothurians remained organic-enriched until the end of the experiment. The study emphasizes the significance of holothurians in mitigating the impacts of aquaculture on sediment conditions and so promoting environmental sustainability.

Species Diversity and Community Structure of Macrobenthos in the Cosmonaut Sea, East Antarctica

The Cosmonaut Sea is an under-studied area and a “white spot” for macrobenthos research. Here, we report on the species diversity and community structure of macrobenthos collected using tringle trawls on the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) in the Cosmonaut Sea, East Antarctica. A total of 11 tringle trawls were deployed at different depths across the shelf, slope and seamount of the Cosmonaut Sea. A total of 275 macrobenthic species were found from 207 to 1994 m. The species richness per station varied from 23 to 89. Echinoderms (100 species), arthropods (48 species) and mollusks (36 species) were the most dominant groups. Echinoderms and arthropods dominated in abundance at seamount stations, and echinoderms, arthropods and polychaetes dominated in abundance at slope stations, while bryozoans, corals, ascidians and sponges were abundant on the Cosmonaut Sea shelf. Depth was the major driving force influencing the distribution of macrobenthos. The main components were two core communities. One was dominated by sessile suspension feeders and associated fauna. Variants of this community include sponges and bryozoans. The other core community was dominated by mobile deposit feeders, infauna and grazers–epifauna, which included arthropods and echinoderms. The results showed that the slope (40–50° E, 65–67° S) of the Cosmonaut Sea may be an important area with complex ecological processes. The results of this study contribute to the knowledge of species diversity and communities of macrobenthos in the Cosmonaut Sea and provide monitoring data for future ecosystem health assessments and better protection.

Diet composition of a native fish species in a neotropical lentic environment

Native species are important to the dynamics of aquatic environments. Studies that seek to understand the basic biology of these species provide information on the species and the dynamics of the natural environment. We characterized the diet, feeding habits, and trophic niche breadth of the native species Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock, 1828) in neotropical lentic environments. Collections were carried out in July 2018 at two sampling points (lagoons) located in the São Francisco Falso River and the Corvo River using gill nets. Stomach content was analyzed, and food items were separated, identified, and quantified using the volumetric method. PERMANOVA analysis was performed to evaluate possible differences in diet between the lagoons. Furthermore, PERMDISP was used to test the trophic niche breadth. Fifteen food items were recorded in the São Francisco lagoon, with the most consumed items being detritus, Diptera (larvae and pupa), and Odonata (nymph). Seven food items were recorded in the Corvo lagoon, with detritus being the most consumed. There was no difference in diet composition and trophic niche breadth between the evaluated lagoons. For both lagoons studied, the species was determined to be a detritivore feeding habit, given its diet's predominant consumption of detritus. The detritivore classification may be related to environmental conditions, food availability, and functional morphology. We also observed the presence of microplastics in the stomachs of some specimens, demonstrating anthropic influence on aquatic environments. Our study contributes to bettering knowledge on this species, and consequently the conservation of the species. It can also serve as a basis for conducting future scientific studies, along with developing the area of study related to Brazilian fish ecology.

Microplastic burden in marine benthic invertebrates depends on species traits and feeding ecology within biogeographical provinces

The microplastic body burden of marine animals is often assumed to reflect levels of environmental contamination, yet variations in feeding ecology and regional trait expression could also affect a species’ risk of contaminant uptake. Here, we explore the global inventory of individual microplastic body burden for invertebrate species inhabiting marine sediments across 16 biogeographic provinces. We show that individual microplastic body burden in benthic invertebrates cannot be fully explained by absolute levels of microplastic contamination in the environment, because interspecific differences in behaviour and feeding ecology strongly determine microplastic uptake. Our analyses also indicate a degree of species-specific particle selectivity; likely associated with feeding biology. Highest microplastic burden occurs in the Yellow and Mediterranean Seas and, contrary to expectation, amongst omnivores, predators, and deposit feeders rather than suspension feeding species. Our findings highlight the inadequacy of microplastic uptake risk assessments based on inventories of environmental contamination alone, and the need to understand how species behaviour and trait expression covary with microplastic contamination.