In a heavily polluted mangrove forest, populations of fiddler crabs are thriving, changing the way scientists think about microplastics.
A team of researchers has found that fiddler crabs can swallow and break down small plastic particles University of Exeter I mentioned. Their study was published in the journal Biology of global changeHe noted that the crabs absorbed microplastics at “one of the highest absorption rates ever recorded in nature.”
People are becoming increasingly aware of the risks that microplastics pose to their health and the health of the environment, yet scientists know little about the ability of animals to adapt to microplastics in their ecosystems.
The polluted mangrove forests on Colombia’s northern coast have proven to be the perfect place to search for answers. The research team sprayed parts of the mangrove area with brightly colored polyethylene microspheres, then measured the concentration of microplastics in the crabs and soil.
They found that the crabs pulled microplastics out of the sediment, such that the average crab absorbed 16 times more microplastic than its concentration in the soil. The crab’s digestive system broke down the microplastics into smaller pieces, accelerating the decomposition process.
“We know that fiddler crabs eat a wide range of foods and ingest plastic in laboratories,” said Tamara Galloway, professor of environmental toxicology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Exeter. University of Exeter. “But until now, we did not know whether they would avoid the use of plastic in the natural environment or whether they would adapt to its presence.”
Although the crabs’ adaptation is remarkable, it is not a cure-all for plastic pollution. Small, digested nanoplastics remain in the crabs’ bodies, with the potential to spread through the entire food chain.
However, the scientists’ findings show that mechanical processes such as exposure to light and friction aren’t the only things that can break down plastic, but living organisms can help too.
Their results are also a testament to nature’s resilience.
“Organisms are not just passive components of the marine ecosystem, but they may find ways to cope with chronic human pressures according to their evolutionary history,” said Daniela Díaz of the University of Antioquia. University of Exeter. “The findings could lead to a better understanding of how animals adapt to pollution and the fate of plastics in the environment.”
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