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Ingestion of nylon threads by Gerreidae while using a tropical estuary as foraging grounds

2012; Inter-Research; Volume: 17; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/ab00461

2195-2744

J. A. A. Ramos, M. Barletta, Mônica F. Costa,

Water Quality Monitoring Technologies

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 17:29-34 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00461 Ingestion of nylon threads by Gerreidae while using a tropical estuary as foraging grounds Jonas A. A. Ramos1,2,3, Mário Barletta2,3,*, Monica F. Costa2,3 1Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba (IFPB), Campus Cabedelo, Paraíba, CEP 58310-000, Brazil 2Laboratório de Ecologia e Gerenciamento de Ecossistemas Costeiros e Estuarinos, Dept. Oceanografia, UFPE, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 50740-550, Brazil 3Instituto de Ecologia e Gerenciamento de Ecossistemas Costeiros e Estuarinos (IEGEA), PO BOX 8132, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 51020-970, Brazil *Corresponding author. Email: mario.barletta@pq.cnpq.br ABSTRACT: The ingestion of plastic fragments by 3 species of Gerreidae (Eugerres brasilianus, Eucinostomus melanopterus and Diapterus rhombeus) in a tropical estuary in Northeast Brazil was assessed for 3 different size classes corresponding to juveniles, sub-adults and adults. In all, 425 individuals were analysed. The gut contents of 13.4% of these individuals contained plastic debris. The only type of debris found was blue nylon fragments originating from ropes used in fishing. Artisanal fishing is the main local activity and was considered to represent the principal source of this marine debris. Significant differences in the number and weight of nylon fragments ingested were found between species and size classes. Moreover, a decrease in the weight of the gut contents was observed in the individuals that had ingested nylon fragments. In addition to the hypothesis that Gerreidae mistakenly identify nylon fragments as prey items, we propose 3 further possible pathways: (1) from fragments that the fishes’ prey have already ingested; (2) through ingestion of fragments along with sediment that is sucked in during feeding; and (3) through ingestion of organisms that have aggregated on fragments. KEY WORDS: Polyamide thread · Ontogenetic phase · Marine conservation · Plastic marine debris · Mojarra Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Ramos JAA, Barletta M, Costa MF (2012) Ingestion of nylon threads by Gerreidae while using a tropical estuary as foraging grounds. Aquat Biol 17:29-34. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00461 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 17, No. 1. Online publication date: October 17, 2012 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.