Biology subjects

Liboiron, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Liboiron, F..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Low incidence of plastic ingestion among three fish species significant for human consumption on the island of Newfoundland, Canada

This study reports the first baselines of plastic ingestion for three fish species that are common food fish in Newfoundland, Canada. Species collections occurred between 2015-2016 for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and capelin (Mallotus villosus). The frequency of occurrence (%FO) of plastic ingestion for both spawning Atlantic salmon (n=69) and capelin (n=350) was 0%. Of the 1,010 Atlantic cod collected over two years, 17 individuals had ingested plastics, a %FO of 1.68%. This is the only multi-year investigation of plastic ingestion in Atlantic cod for the Northwest Atlantic, and the first for capelin and salmon in the region. Considering the ecological, economic, and cultural importance of these fish species, this study is the beginning of a longitudinal study of plastic ingestion to detect future changes in contamination levels.\n\nHighlightsO_LIIngestion rate (%FO) of plastics in Atlantic cod is 1.68%\nC_LIO_LIIngestion rate (%FO) of plastics in Atlantic salmon and capelin is 0%\nC_LIO_LIFirst study of plastic ingestion rates in Atlantic salmon and capelin\nC_LIO_LIMulti-year baseline of plastic ingestion in Atlantic cod in the Northwest Atlantic\nC_LIO_LIPlastic ingestion rates for three food fish species in Newfoundland, Canada, are low\nC_LI\n\nTermsO_LIFrequency of occurrence (%FO): the number of individuals in a population or group that have ingested plastics (not indicative of the number of particles ingested per individual)\nC_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2018

A zero percent plastic ingestion rate by silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) from the south coast of Newfoundland, Canada

Silver hake, (Merluccius bilinearis), contributes significant biomass to Northwest Atlantic ecosystems. The incidence of plastic ingestion for 134 individuals collected from Newfoundland, Canada was examined through visual examination of gastrointestinal contents and Raman spectrometry. We found a frequency of occurrence of ingestion of 0%. Through a comprehensive literature review of globally published fish ingestion studies, we found our value to be consistent with 41% (n=100) of all reported fish ingestion rates. We could not statistically compare silver hake results to other species due to low sample sizes in other studies (less than n=20) and a lack of standardized sampling methods. We recommend that further studies should 1) continue to report 0% plastic ingestion rates and 2) should describe location and species-specific traits that may contribute to 0% ingestion rates, particularly in locations where fish consumption has cultural and economic significance.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2016

Low plastic ingestion rate in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) from Newfoundland destined for human consumption collected through citizen science methods

Marine microplastics are a contaminant of concern because their small size allows ingestion by a wide range of marine life. Using citizen science during the Newfoundland recreational cod fishery, we sampled 205 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) destined for human consumption and found that 5 had eaten plastic, an ingestion prevalence rate of 2.4%. This ingestion rate for Atlantic cod is the second lowest recorded rate in the reviewed published literature (the lowest is 1.4%), and the lowest for any fish in the North Atlantic. This is the first report for plastic ingestion in fish in Newfoundland, Canada, a province dependent on fish for sustenance and livelihoods.\n\nHighlights (3-5 points, 85 char max including spaces)O_LIPlastic ingestion rate of 2.4% for Atlantic Cod (n=205)\nC_LIO_LIFirst recorded baseline for fish in Newfoundland, Canada\nC_LIO_LIThis plastic ingestion prevalence rate is among the lowest recorded to date\nC_LIO_LIUsed citizen science to collect GI tracts from fish destined for human consumption\nC_LI

ecology↗