Goldstein MC, Goodwin DS. (2013) Gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) ingest 
microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. PeerJ 1:e184 
http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.184

Abstract
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.

https://peerj.com/articles/184.pdf