Presence of Microplastics in the Food Web of the Largest High-Elevation Lake in North America

Microplastics have been documented in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the world. However, few studies investigated microplastics freshwater fish diets. In this study, water samples three trophic levels of a food web were for microplastic presence: amphipods (Gammarus lacustris), Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), lake (Salvelinus namaycush). other anthropogenic materials samples, amphipods, fish, then confirmed using FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) Raman spectroscopy. Our findings presence high-elevation national park, which corroborates recent implicating global distribution microplastics. This study further illustrates need action regarding appropriate manufacturing, use, disposal plastics to minimize effects on environment.