In-depth analysis of microplastics reported from animal and algae seafood species: Implications for consumers and environmental health.

Macroalgae are able to retain environmental microplastics (MPs). The potential ingestion of MP through Atlantic agar Gelidium corneum and different animal species (hake, glass eels, mussels, topshells, anemones, sea cucumbers) that are seafood resources in Spain, was estimated from published MPs data calculating daily dose and annual ingestion rate. The study region was Asturias (SW Bay of Biscay).

Environmental DNA for the surveillance of biosecurity threats in Mediterranean lagoons.

Invasive species that outcompete endemic ones and toxic harmful algae that cause algal blooms threaten marine resources like fisheries, aquaculture, and even tourism. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding can help as a method for early alert. In this study, we have analyzed communities inhabiting six lagoons within the Gulf of Lion (northwest Mediterranean Sea) with spatial protection as RAMSAR and Natura 2000 sites.

Lyko, 2017: A new threat to Iberian inland waters.

An eco-monitoring programme to assess faunal biodiversity in the main rivers of the northern Iberian Peninsula (Spain) reveals the first occurrence of the marbled crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Iberian inland waters. Iberian specimens have been identified by combining morphological and genetic traits. We discuss the most plausible pathways and introduction vectors, its potential invasiveness and subsequent impacts on host localities.

New dockside eDNA based protocol to detect the seaweed Asparagopsis armata evaluated by stakeholders.

Early detection of invasive species is crucial to deal effectively with biological invasions in ports, which are hotspots of species introductions. In this study, a simplified end-time PCR methodology conducted on eDNA from water samples was developed for rapid detection of the invasive seaweed Asparagopsis armata (four hours from water collection to result visualization). It was tested dockside in four international Spanish ports in presence of stakeholders, whose feedback was obtained to explore the real applicability of this biotechnology.

Plankton assessment across the distribution of West African hake and tuna based on eDNA metabarcoding.

The richness of plankton communities determines the fish productivity in the ocean, including important resources that rely on extractive fisheries, such as hakes (genus Merluccius) and tunas (genus Thunnus). Their preys forage on zooplankton, and the latter feed on phytoplankton. Inventories of plankton communities for scientific advice to sustainable fishing are essential in this moment of climate change.

Towards a plastic-less planet. Gender and individual responsibility predict the effect of imagery nudges about marine (micro)plastic pollution on R-behavior intentions.

Emerging microplastics (MP) pollution is one of the biggest threats for the oceans today. Consumers could reduce MP pollution adopting R-behaviors such as reducing consumption of plastic, refusing products with MP, replacing them for green products, and recycling. Here we tested the efficiency of online nudges (images and short messages) for promoting MP-conscious behavior in Spain (n = 671).

High microplastics concentration in liver is negatively associated with condition factor in the Benguela hake Merluccius polli.

Microplastics (MPs) affect both marine and terrestrial biota worldwide for their harmful effects, which range from physical cell damage to physiological deterioration. In this research, microplastics were quantified from gills, liver and muscle of demersal Benguela hakes Merluccius polli (n = 94), caught by commercial trawling from northwest African waters. Plastic polymers were identified using Fourier Transformed-infraRed spectroscopy (FT-iR).

Microplastics across biomes in diadromous species. Insights from the critically endangered Anguilla anguilla.

Microplastic pollution affects freshwater and marine biota worldwide, microplastics occurring even inside the organisms. With highly variable effects, from physical damage to toxicity of plastic compounds, microplastics are a potential threat to the biodiversity, community composition and organisms' health. This emerging pollutant could overstress diadromous species, which are exposed to both sea and river water in their life cycle.

Microplastics in seafood: Relative input of Mytilus galloprovincialis and table salt in mussel dishes.

Due to current marine pollution, microplastics ingestion through seafood is an increasing risk for consumers. In this study, microplastics from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and table salt employed in popular dishes in Bay of Biscay (Spain) were quantified and analysed by Fourier-Transformed Infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics varied in mussels (mean 0.

Heavy metals in fish nearby electronic waste may threaten consumer's health. Examples from Accra, Ghana.

Electronic waste sites are rich in heavy metals contained in electronic and electric equipment waste and pose a risk of pollution if metals enter in the environment nearby. The Korle lagoon, located in the center of Accra, is receiving waste effluents from industries, households and the adjacent e-waste burning site Agbogbloshie which is the biggest in the country. Thus, the risk of heavy metal contamination of the water body and subsequent uptake in the aquatic food chain is particularly relevant.

Environmental DNA sampling protocols for the surveillance of marine non-indigenous species in Irish coastal waters.

Understanding the spread and distribution of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) is key when implementing legislation to maintain good ecosystem health. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has shown great potential to detect aquatic organisms in a rapid and cost-effective way, however their applicability to new environments must be validated prior to their implementation. Here, we tested different field sampling methods in combination with eDNA metabarcoding to develop a tool to detect NIS.

Virgin Polystyrene Microparticles Exposure Leads to Changes in Gills DNA and Physical Condition in the Mediterranean Mussel .

The ever-growing concentration of microplastics in the marine environment is leading to a plethora of questions regarding marine organisms' present and future health status. In this article, the Mediterranean mussel (), a commercial species distributed worldwide, has been exposed to 21 daily doses of polystyrene microparticles (10 µm) at four different concentrations that are environmentally realistic (control: no microplastics, C1: 0.02 mg/L, C2: 0.

DNA Analysis Detects Different Mislabeling Trend by Country in European Cod Fillets.

Atlantic cod, , is a highly appreciated fish in European seafood markets and is one of the most substituted fish species in the world. Fraud have been detected in European markets in the last decade, finding different substitute species sold as or Atlantic cod on the label. In this study, we analyzed 252 samples of fresh and frozen cod fillets sold in Germany, the Netherlands, and France using DNA barcoding.

Fraud in highly appreciated fish detected from DNA in Europe may undermine the Development Goal of sustainable fishing in Africa.

Despite high effort for food traceability to ensure safe and sustainable consumption, mislabeling persists on seafood markets. Determining what drives deliberate fraud is necessary to improve food authenticity and sustainability. In this study, the relationship between consumer's appreciation and fraudulent mislabeling was assessed through a combination of a survey on consumer's preferences (N = 1608) and molecular tools applied to fish samples commercialized by European companies.

From the ocean to jellies forth and back? Microplastics along the commercial life cycle of red algae.

Red algae are increasingly exploited for direct consumption and for production of gelling agents like agar and carrageenan, widely employed in food and personal care products. In this article we identify knowledge gaps about microplastics in the whole commercial life cycle of gelling red algae, from their marine production to the final wastewater treatment. Recommendations for new research include studies of microplastics deposition on red algae at sea, during the industrial process of production of gelling agents, and indeed about improvements of microplastics retention in wastewater treatment plants.

Poorer diversity but tougher species in old ballast water: Biosecurity challenges explored from visual and molecular techniques.

Millions of tons of water cross the oceans inside ships' ballast tanks every day. Planktonic species hitch-hike with water and some may pose risks to ecosystems and economies if get released and establish outside their native range. We monitored ballast water in different trans-equatorial travels, visually and using molecular techniques, and found significant increases of potential nuisance taxa over travel duration, despite evident diversity depletion.

eDNA metabarcoding of small plankton samples to detect fish larvae and their preys from Atlantic and Pacific waters.

Zooplankton community inventories are the basis of fisheries management for containing fish larvae and their preys; however, the visual identification of early-stage larvae (the "missing biomass") is difficult and laborious. Here, eDNA metabarcoding was employed to detect zooplankton species of interest for fisheries from open and coastal waters. High-Throughput sequencing (HTS) from environmental samples using small water volumes has been proposed to detect species of interest whose DNA is the most abundant.

Ship-driven biopollution: How aliens transform the local ecosystem diversity in Pacific islands.

Ships moving species across the oceans mix marine communities throughout latitudes. The introduction of new species may be changing the ecosystems even in remote islands. In tropical Pacific islands where maritime traffic is principally local, eDNA metabarcoding and barcoding revealed 75 introduced species, accounting in average for 28% of the community with a minimum of 13% in the very remote Rangiroa atoll.

Maritime ports and beach management as sources of coastal macro-, meso-, and microplastic pollution.

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue that affects coasts all around the world. Many studies point out the importance of a better management of this type of pollution. In this pioneering study, we have analyzed the distribution of macro-, meso-, and microplastics along the coast of Asturias (southwest Bay of Biscay, Spain).

Stress resistance for unraveling potential biopollutants. Insights from ballast water community analysis through DNA.

In marine settings, anthropogenic disturbances and climate change increase the rate of biological invasions. Predicting still undescribed invasive alien species (IAS) is needed for preparing timely management responses. We tested a strategy for discovering new potential IAS using DNA in a trans-equatorial expedition onboard RV Polarstern.

Oceanic karma? Eco-ethical gaps in African EEE metal cycle may hit back through seafood contamination.

The increasing global demand for electric and electronic equipment (EEE) such as smartphones, tablets and electric car batteries has resulted in an increase in heavy metal releases to the environment at different steps during its manufacture (e.g. mining, extraction, production and e-waste).

Bioremediation as a promising strategy for microplastics removal in wastewater treatment plants.

Microplastics (MPs) attract ever-increasing attention due to environmental concerns. Nowadays, they are ubiquitous across ecosystems, and research demonstrates that the origin is mainly terrestrial. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a major source of MPs, especially fibres, in water masses.

Microplastics in special protected areas for migratory birds in the Bay of Biscay.

Plastic pollution is a major ecological catastrophe that endangers vulnerable species. Small plastic fragments and filaments enter the food web in the ocean threatening marine species health. Here microplastics between 0.