Microplastics in mainstem Mississippi River fishes

Microplastics are ubiquitous in Earth’s ecosystems and many efforts have begun to understand their distributions. Large rivers, like the Mississippi River, provide a unique system which look at large-scale patterns of microplastic distribution. In this study, we sampled four species widely-distributed fishes from five sites along mainstem Minnesota Louisiana, United States. were found all fish sites; however, microplastics increased occurrence Lower River. Fragments most common morphologies polypropylene was polymer detected. We also examined hypothesis that loads downstream, but support for only when examining Largemouth Bass; Flathead Catfish, Shortnose Gar, Bluegill similar It is clear heterogeneously distributed throughout ecosystems, further understanding distributional varying burdens needed fully threats present.