@article{fdi:010084341,
  title = {{T}he role of mesopelagic fishes as microplastics vectors across the deep-sea layers from the {S}outhwestern {T}ropical {A}tlantic},
  author = {{J}ustino, {A}. {K}. {S}. and {F}erreira, {G}. {V}. {B}. and {S}chmidt, {N}. and {E}duardo, {L}. {N}. and {F}auvelle, {V}incent and {L}enoble, {V}. and {S}empere, {R}. and {P}anagiotopoulos, {C}. and {M}incarone, {M}. {M}. and {F}redou, {T}. and {L}ucena-{F}redou, {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}icroplastics ({MP}s; <5 mm) are a macro issue recognised worldwide as a threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. {W}idely distributed in marine ecosystems, {MP}s have already been found in the deep-sea environment. {H}owever, there is little information on ecological mechanisms driving {MP} uptake by deep-sea species. {F}or the first time, this study generates data on {MP} contamination in mesopelagic fishes from the {S}outhwestern {T}ropical {A}tlantic ({SWTA}) to help understand the deep-sea contamination patterns. {A}n alkaline digestion protocol was applied to extract {MP}s from the digestive tract of four mesopelagic fish species: {A}rgyropelecus sladeni, {S}ternoptyx diaphana ({S}ternoptychidae), {D}iaphus brachycephalus, and {H}ygophum taaningi ({M}yctophidae). {A} total of 213 particles were recovered from 170 specimens, and {MP}s were found in 67% of the specimens. {F}ibres were the most common shape found in all species, whereas polyamide, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the most frequent polymers. {T}he most contaminated species was {A}. sladeni (93%), and the least contaminated was {S}. diaphana (45%). {I}nterestingly, individuals caught in the lower mesopelagic zone (500-1000 m depth) were less contaminated with {MP}s than those captured in the upper mesopelagic layer (200-500 m). {O}ur results highlight significant contamination levels and reveal the influence of mesopelagic fishes on {MP}s transport in the deep waters of the {SWTA}.},
  keywords = {{M}arine pollution ; {P}lastic ingestion ; {M}yctophidae ; {S}ternoptychidae ; {O}ceanic islands ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE} ; {FERNANDO} {DE} {NORONHA}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental {P}ollution},
  volume = {300},
  numero = {},
  pages = {118988 [10 ]},
  ISSN = {0269-7491},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118988},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084341},
}