Egestion rates of microplastic fibres in fish scaled to in situ concentration and fish density

Microplastics (particles <5 mm) are commonly found in aquatic organisms across taxonomic groups and ecosystems. However, the egestion rate of microplastics from how rates compare to other microplastic movement environment sparsely documented. We fed fibres round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus), an abundant, invasive species Laurentian Great Lakes. conducted two trials where were microplastic-containing food either a single time (1 day) or every day over 7 days. There was no difference 1 feeding trials, suggesting impact duration exposure on (exponential decay = −0.055 [±0.016 SE] −0.040 [±0.007 SE], respectively). Turnover (i.e., average ingestion egestion) gut ranged 18.2 25.0 hr, similar published values for freshwater taxa. also measured digestive tracts collected directly Lake Michigan, U.S.A. Using goby density concentration at study sites, we calculated areal by (no. particles m–2 day–1), compared it riverine export day–1). Both area-based same order magnitude, that could be important, potentially overlooked component dynamics ecosystem scale. Animal is well-known as major nutrient carbon cycling. direct measurements fluxes include animal uncommon. An ecology approach needed meet emerging challenge generating budgets environments elsewhere, thereby informing management mitigation plastic pollution global