First evidence of presence of plastic debris in digestive system of Mola mola (L.) from western Mediterranean Sea

Ana E Ahuir-Baraja

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113326

First evidence of presence of plastic debris in digestive system of Mola mola (L.) from western Mediterranean Sea

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Feb:175:113326. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113326. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Author

Ana E Ahuir-Baraja¹

Affiliation

¹ Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Research Group (PARAVET), Department of Animal Production and Health, Public Veterinary Health and Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Calle Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.. Electronic address: ana.ahuir@uchceu.es.

PMID: 35066414
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113326

Abstract

Ingestion of marine debris by ocean sunfishes is not very well documented. As the feeding behaviour of these giants of the seas is very similar to marine turtles, it is expected that the accidental ingestion of plastics could be registered in these species of fish. With this work it is noticed for the first time the presence of a blue plastic fragment, classified by its size as a mesoplastic, in the digestive system of Mola mola (L.) (Molidae) from western Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords: Digestive system; Mediterranean Sea; Mesoplastic; Mola mola; Parasites.

MeSH terms

Animals
Digestive System / chemistry
Eating
Environmental Monitoring
Mediterranean Sea
Plastics
Tetraodontiformes*
Turtles*
Water Pollutants* / analysis

Substances

Plastics
Water Pollutants