Evaluating Microplastic Pollution in Coastal Waters and Its Impact on Aquatic Food Webs

Abstract

The objective was to delineate a methodology to investigate the correlation between spatio-temporal variations in habitat usage, feeding ecosystems, and microplastics (MPs) contamination throughout various ontogenetic stages of fish from various trophic stages inhabiting the aquatic food web. The sedimentary layer of the river was analyzed for the annual and regional fluctuation of MPs and their relationship to the pollution of zooplankton and demersal varieties of fish, according to the same sample methodology. The concentration of MPs in the water column influences their bioavailability. Attention is being paid to research on the geographic distribution of MPs and the geographical and temporal variations in ecological factors and fauna, which is rising in both number and quality. Should the environmental methods delineated in this research be repeated in other estuaries, comparative analyses might elucidate the functioning of communities. Established techniques for sampling, removal, counting, and categorizing MPs and other pollutants consumed by fish are being established and described below to facilitate comparability. Standardized and consistent sample designs and lab procedures are essential for developing and disseminating management solutions across several locations and for temporal comparisons within the same ecosystem.