Publications by authors named "Kayla Mladinich"

Microplastics (MP) have repeatedly been found in commercially cultured species of bivalves. There are concerns regarding the amount of MP released into the environment by aquaculture activities, and questions regarding possible higher MP loads in farm-grown shellfish compared to levels in shellfish collected from recreational beds. To explore this concept, seawater, aquaculture gear, and eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were sampled from an aquaculture site in Niantic Bay, CT, USA, and a 2-week transplantation experiment was performed in which oysters were transplanted between the aquaculture site and a plastic-free cage off the dock at the University of Connecticut-Avery Point campus.

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Microplastics (MP, <5 mm) are found in coastal waters across various environmental compartments (biota, water, marine snow, sediment). The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is a commercially important species that ingests MP; however, oysters are discriminant suspension feeders that do not consume all particles to which they are exposed. This study explored the relationship between MP in oysters on a recreational oyster bed and the surrounding environmental compartments in Long Island Sound (LIS; USA).

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Article Synopsis
  • Suspension-feeding bivalve mollusks like blue mussels and eastern oysters interact with different microplastics in the water, selectively eating certain sizes and types of particles based on their properties.
  • The study found that both mussels and oysters preferentially ingest shorter polyester (PES) microfibers over longer ones, but their selection seems to be independent of the type of polymer.
  • Ultimately, the size of the particles (measured by area and perimeter) was identified as the key factor in determining whether a bivalve consumes or rejects specific microplastics.
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Microplastics (MP; 1 μm to 1 mm) of various shapes and compositions are ingested by numerous marine animals. Recently, proposals have been made to adopt bivalve molluscs as bioindicators of MP pollution. To serve as indicators of MP pollution, however, the proposed organisms should ingest, without bias, the majority of plastic particles to which they are exposed.

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