In-situ microplastic egestion efficiency of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica

Casey A Craig; David W Fox; Lei Zhai; Linda J Walters

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113653

In-situ microplastic egestion efficiency of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 May:178:113653. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113653. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Authors

Casey A Craig¹, David W Fox², Lei Zhai², Linda J Walters³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 32816, USA. Electronic address: Craig.casey2015@knights.ucf.edu.
² Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, 32816, USA; NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 32816, USA.
³ Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 32816, USA.

PMID: 35447440
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113653

Abstract

Microplastics (MP) are a pervasive environmental pollutant that enter coastal water bodies, posing an ingestion risk to marine biota. This study quantified the ability of the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) to egest MP in-situ in their biodeposits - feces and pseudofeces. Oysters of all sizes were able to egest environmental MP at a mean rate of 1 MP per 1 h through feces, and 1 MP per 2 h through pseudofeces. Smaller C. virginica were more efficient at egesting MP, and efficiency decreased by 0.8% per 1-g increase in tissue weight, with C. virginica of harvestable size being much less efficient. These findings are of relevance to resource managers for C. virginica populations as it further contributes to our understanding of MP accumulation in wild populations and has implications for not just C. virginica but also for their consumers.

Keywords: (6)- oyster; Egestion; Florida; In-situ; Indian River Lagoon; Microplastics.

MeSH terms

Animals
Crassostrea*
Feces
Microplastics*
Plastics
Seafood

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics