Publications by authors named "David Ruiz-Garcia"
Article Synopsis
- Plastic pollution is a significant threat to marine ecosystems, and recent research on the small-spotted catshark reveals that these sharks are using plastic debris for laying eggs when traditional substrates are lacking.
- This behavior change is influenced by factors like pollution, habitat degradation, and fishing pressure, indicating a concerning shift in their nesting habits due to environmental pressures.
- As plastic debris increases and natural habitats decline, understanding the impact on the catshark's fitness and survival is crucial, emphasizing the importance of protecting natural marine habitats.
The potential bioaccumulation of pollutants, such as heavy metals, may pose a threat to the western Mediterranean chondrichthyans and human consumers. Therefore, the first extensive assessment of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) concentrations in the muscle tissue of 17 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras in this region was conducted via Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). Significant differences between species were observed, particularly related to the rabbit fish (Chimaera monstrosa) and the velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax), which exceeded the European Union (EU) Commission Regulation 2023/915 threshold of Cd.
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