Microplastic Bioaccumulation in Invertebrates, Fish, and Cormorants in Lake Champlain

Microplastic Bioaccumulation in invertebrates, fish, and cormorants in Lake Champlain

Item Type Presentation

Authors Hammer, Chad; VanBrocklin, Hope

Download date 26/09/2021 09:02:06

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12648/867

Microplastic Bioaccumulation in Invertebrates, Fish, and Cormorants in Lake Champlain Student Researchers: Chad Hammer and Hope VanBrocklin Faculty Mentor: Danielle Garneau, Ph.D. (SUNY Plattsburgh) Center for Earth and Environmental Science SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Introduction Field Methodology Results Discussion • Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems, as well as their Sources of organisms: • Presence of microplastics was noted in many of our fish and • Rainbow smelt, alewife à Vermont Fish & Game monitoring surveys cormorant specimens, as well as in organisms lower in the food web. inhabitants ranging from invertebrates to whales (Baulch et al. • All species were found to contain microplastics with the exception of • Double-crested cormorantsà NYS DEC removal project Our results (Figs. 7, 8) indicate that microplastic bioaccumulation is 2014). terrestrial isopods and zebra mussels. occurring, as other research has noted (Wright et al. 2013) • Mysids, amphipods, zebra mussels, and fishà Lake Champlain • Microplastics are defined as plastic particles < 5mm diameter. Research Institute (LCRI) via 250µ Bongo net and kick nets A • Synthetic fibers were the most common type of particulate found in organisms. • Primary microplastics are most commonly used in cosmetics or Ø It was determined that the most abundant plastics in North Sea produced for industrial uses (nurdles). These are typically A fish digestive tracts were rayon and polyamide textile fibers discharged into watersheds through wastewater treatment plant (Lusher et al. 2013). (WWTP) effluent and onward into waterbodies. All Organisms • Many organisms mistake these microplastics for food (Foekema et All Organisms al. 2013) and bioaccumulate up the food chain (Eriksson and Burton • Secondary microplastics are microsized fragments derived from 2003). the breakdown of larger plastic debris by processes such as Ø Studies have shown that microplastics adhere to algae (Gutow et mechanical, biological, and photodegradation (Galloway et al. al. 2016). 2011). They are also comprised of marine debris (e.g., lures, line/ B C D Ø 61% surveyed zooplankton contained microplastics (Frias et al. rope, nets). C 2014). Ø 19.8% of fish, across 17 species, ingested microplastics and Figs. 3. A) Alewife, B) Mysid shrimp, C) Rainbow smelt, D) Double-crested 32.7% of them had more than one microplastic (Neves et al. • Microplastics can be synthetic fibers, which readily pass through cormorant, E) Amphipod, F) Largemouth bass, G) Juvenile bluegill (Google WWTP filtration and into local watersheds and up the food chain. Cormorants 2015). Images). Mysids Ø 45% sunfish consumed microplastics. Of particulate, size ranged Laboratory Methodology Rainbow Smelt from macro (i.e., >5 mm) (4%) and microplastic fibers (96%). • Microplastics can absorb a wide range of pollutants (Besseling et Rainbow Smelt Fish length/age and urbanization resulted in increased al. 2012) and are able to leach out plasticizers such as phthalate C particulate load. and BPA which can enter the tissues of aquatic species and pose a A B Ø American black ducks (46.1%) and mallards (6.9%) were found threat to humans. E F G to have ingested plastics (English et al. 2015).

• Microplastics are hydrophobic particles that behave like DDT and • Negative impacts of microplastics exposure in benthic aquatic PCBs, acting as chemical inhibitors within living organisms and 5F Bluegill systems have been reported, including reduced feeding activity, bioaccumulate within the food web (Stevens 2015). Alewife enhanced absorption of contaminants (Besseling et al. 2012), and Arthropods reduced energy reserves following consumption (Wright et al. 2013).

Figs. 4. A) Adding KOH (strong base), B) Heating of wet peroxide oxidation, • Human risks range from consumption of seafood (Van H I J C) Size separation of wet peroxide oxidation. Cauwenberghe and Janssen 2014), to beer (Liebezeit and Liebezeit 2014), and sea salt (Yang et al. 2015) to pathogenic spread • 30 mL of 4M KOH (strong base) was added to organismal sample (Keswani et al. 2016). which was heated at 60oC and stirred to initiate tissue breakdown. Ø Small anthropogenic debris has been shown to cause physical Fig. 1. Microplastics moving through the food chain (Ivar do Sul 2014). Sculpin Largemouth Bass Amphipod damage leading to cellular necrosis, inflammation and lacerations Goal • KOH dosed samples were removed from heat and 5 mL of 30% 5G of gastrointestinal (GI) tract (Rochman et al. 2015). H2O2 was added and stirred at 350 rpm for 15 minutes. To survey and characterize microplastics found within the digestive Future Directions tracts of aquatic organisms: double crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax • Samples were then sieved through a 125µm sieve and rinsed with • Characterize microplastics to polymer type using FTIR (Fourier DI water. auritus), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), largemouth bass Transform Infrared) microscopy. (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), slimy • Wet-peroxide oxidation step: 20 mL of FeSO and 20 mL H O Figs. 7. A-J. Species-specific microplastics A) all organisms (n = 363), B) sculpin (Cottus cognatus), amphipods (Gammarus fasciatus), mysid 4 2 2 were added to samples, heated at 75oC while stirring at 350 rpm. double-crested cormorants (n = 15), C) rainbow smelt (n=96), D) mysids (n = • Continue processing fish digestive tracts to increase fish diversity shrimp (Hemimysis anomala), zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), 164), E) alewife (n=9), F) arthropods (n = 43), G) bluegill sunfish (n = 3), H) across guilds. alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and various aquatic insects. • The acid-peroxide digested samples were filtered through a series slimy sculpin (n = 2), I) largemouth bass (n = 1), and J) amphipods (n=30). of sieves (1mm, 355µm, 125µm) for size separation and washed • Survey for presence of microplastics in zooplankton. Hypothesis with DI water. • Greater microplastic abundance in organisms occupying higher 5H • Analyze bass tournament stomach contents for marine debric trophic levels. • Microplastics were characterized by size, color, and type (e.g., plastic lures, lines). (e.g., fragment, pellet/bead, foam, film, fiber).

• Greater synthetic fiber abundance in filter feeders. Acknowledgements • Leica Ez4 and Zeiss Stemi 2000-c Special thanks to Dr. Sherri Mason (SUNY Fredonia) for guidance and inspiration in dissecting microscopes were used to • Greater abundance of beads and larger fragments in larger animals. this microplastic research. We are grateful to Dr. Bob Fuller’s valuable assistance in analyze suspect microplastics, aid in demonstration of safe lab practices in acid-peroxide digestion, as well as provision of Lake Champlain Basin characterization, and obtain photographs. laboratory chemicals and other supplies. Thank you to the NYS DEC, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, & LCRI for helping us to obtain our samples. Funding was provided by a A B NOAA funded Lake Champlain SeaGrant grant. Fig. 5. Analyzing and image capture of microplastics. 5I References Baulch, S. and C. Perry. 2012. A sea of plastic: evaluating the impacts of marine debris on cetaceans. Marine Mammal Commission Report SC/64/ E10. 24 pp.

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