Direct ingestion, trophic transfer, and physiological effects of microplastics in the early life stages of Centropristis striata, a commercially and recreationally valuable fishery species

Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine and estuarine ecosystems, thus there is increasing concern regarding exposure potential effects commercial species. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the of microplastics on larval early juvenile life stages Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata), a North American fishery. Larvae (13–14 days post hatch, dph) were exposed to 1.0 × 104, 105, 106 particles L?1 low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microspheres (10–20 ?m) directly seawater via trophic transfer from microzooplankton prey (tintinnid ciliates, Favella spp.). We also compared ingestion virgin chemically-treated incubated with either phenanthrene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, or 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP), plastic additive. Larval fish did not discriminate between microspheres. However, larvae ingest higher numbers through than seawater. Early juveniles (50–60 LDPE microspheres, as well microfibers for 96 h determine physiological (i.e., oxygen consumption immune response). There was significant positive relationship microfiber concentration, negative response microsphere concentration. This first assessment microplastic pollution finfish species demonstrates that can be route C. striata, multi-day some result stress.