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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/jfb.12838/abstract

Lima, A. R. A., Barletta, M., Costa, M. F., Ramos, J. A. A., Dantas, D.
V., Melo, P. A. M. C., Justino, A. K. S. and Ferreira, G. V. B. (2015),
Changes in the composition of ichthyoplankton assemblage and plastic
debris in mangrove creeks relative to moon phases. Journal of Fish
Biology. doi: 10.1111/jfb.12838

Abstract
Lunar influence on the distribution of fish larvae, zooplankton and
plastic debris in mangrove creeks of the Goiana Estuary, Brazil, was
studied over a lunar cycle. Cetengraulis edentulus, Anchovia clupeoides
and Rhinosardinia bahiensis were the most abundant fish larvae (56·6%),
independent of the moon phase. The full moon had a positive influence on
the abundance of Gobionellus oceanicus, Cynoscion acoupa and Atherinella
brasiliensis, and the new moon on Ulaema lefroyi. The full and new moons
also influenced the number of zoeae and megalopae of Ucides cordatus,
protozoeae and larvae of caridean shrimps, and the number of hard and
soft plastic debris, both <5 and >5 mm. Micro and macroplastics were
present in samples from all 12 creeks studied, at densities similar to
the third most abundant taxon, R. bahiensis. Cetengraulis edentulus and
R. bahiensis showed a strong positive correlation with the last quarter
moon, when there was less zooplankton available in the creeks and higher
abundance of microplastic threads. Anchovia clupeoides, Diapterus
rhombeus, U. lefroyi and hard microplastics were positively associated
with different moon phases, when calanoid copepods, Caridean larvae and
zoeae of U. cordatus were highly available in the creeks. Cynoscion
acoupa, G. oceanicus and A. brasiliensis were strongly associated with
the full moon, when protozoeae of caridean shrimps and megalopae of U.
cordatus were also highly available, as were hard and soft
macroplastics, paint chips (<5 mm) and soft microplastics. The results reinforce the role of mangrove creeks as nursery habitats. The moon phases influenced the distribution of fish larvae species, zooplankton and plastic debris by changing their compositions and abundances in the mangrove creeks of the Goiana Estuary when under the influence of different tidal current regimes. Keywords: fish larvae; lunar cycle; microplastics; north-east Brazil; tropical estuary

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/etc.3361/abstract

Batel, A., Linti, F., Scherer, M., Erdinger, L. and Braunbeck, T.
(2016), The transfer of benzo[a]pyrene from microplastics to Artemia
nauplii and further to zebrafish via a trophic food web experiment –
CYP1A induction and visual tracking of persistent organic pollutants.
Environ Toxicol Chem. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1002/etc.3361

Abstract
The uptake of microplastic particles and the transfer of potential
harmful substances along with microplastics has been studied in a
variety of organisms, especially invertebrates. However, the potential
accumulation of very small microplastic particles along food webs ending
with vertebrate models has not been investigated so far. Therefore, a
simple artificial food chain with Artemia spec. nauplii and zebrafish
(Danio rerio) was established to analyze the transfer of microplastic
particles and associated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) between
different trophic levels. Very small (1 – 20 µm) microplastic particles
accumulated in Artemia nauplii and were subsequently transferred to
fish. Virgin particles not loaded with POPs did not cause any observable
physical harm in the intestinal tracts of zebrafish, although part of
the particles were retained within the mucus of intestinal villi and
might even be taken up by epithelial cells. The transfer of associated
POPs was tested with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene
and an ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay for CYP1A induction in
zebrafish liver as well as via fluorescence analyses. Whereas a
significant induction in the EROD assay could not be shown due to high
individual variation and low sensitivity regarding substance
concentration, the fluorescence tracking of benzo[a]pyrene indicates
that food-borne microplastic-associated POPs may actually desorb in the
intestine of fish and are thus transferred to the intestinal epithelium
and liver.

Keywords:
Microplastics; Food web; Zebrafish; Benzo[a]pyrene; CYP1A induction

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The post How marine debris ingestion differs among megafauna species in a tropical coastal area appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

The post How marine debris ingestion differs among megafauna species in a tropical coastal area appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

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The post The Danube so colourful: A potpourri of plastic litter outnumbers fish larvae in Europe’s second largest river appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Abstract
Greenland sharks are widely distributed and most likely a highly 
abundant predator in arctic waters. Greenland sharks have previously 
been considered scavengers, but recent studies suggest that Greenland 
sharks also predate on live prey. In this study, distribution and 
feeding ecology in Greenland waters were investigated. Based on data 
from 25 years of surveys, Greenland sharks were usually caught at 
400–700 m but were found at all depths between 100 and 1,200 m. Based on 
examination of stomachs from 30 Greenland sharks (total length of 
258–460 cm), the most important prey items were Atlantic cod (65.6 % 
IRI), harp seal (9.9 % IRI), skates (5.2 % IRI) and wolffish (4.4 % 
IRI), but large geographical variations were observed. Prey composition 
and qualitative observations support the hypothesis of active predation. 
Consistent with other studies, the results of this work support the 
notion that the Greenland shark is an apex predator with the potential 
to influence trophic dynamics in the Arctic.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-013-1408-3

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