The New Food Chain- CUR: Allie

   Fay C. sec. 101. Have you found anything in the birds or fish? Why do they eat plastic?

   The current data collected within the Daytona Beach area, include the findings of positively identified microplastics consumed by 5 fish and 2 birds. These discoveries contain microplastic fibers and Styrofoam bits. Plastic is a foreign substance to the natural environment and unfortunately many animals end up consuming them. The two main reasons for this are succumbing to their surroundings by nature and mistaking microplastics for food. Regardless of how consumed, microplastics are found in the stomachs of many different species and have severe negative effects on the environment and the animal’s habitats that it invades.

Bass fish open wide while feeding 

   As stated in the article ‘How Freshwater Fish Eat: Usually in One Go’ by Max Lepley, it is referenced that many fish use a vacuum method to suck up their food. This occurs by opening their mouths and expanding their buccal cavity. Creating an area of low pressure as water rushes in from the outside, this captivates and traps any prey within their surroundings. Once the fish close their mouths, the food is caught, and the excess water is released through the gills. Generally, the larger the fish the stronger the suction. Tiny floating microparticles of plastic and other materials can easily be accidently accepted for prey or product of the environment. This is how plastic becomes part of the new food chain. 

Click here to watch a video that shows fishes' feeding method in a 3D demonstration.

This week, research continues..

   Recently recovered microplastics and styrofoam particles have been located in 3 local lionfish and 1 whiting fish.

Styrofoam bead found in Whiting fish

Styrofoam takes 500+ years to decompose into the natural environment. This styrofoam particle was found in a local Whitefish.

Microplastic fiber found in Lionfish #1

Lionfish #2

Lionfish #3

3/3 Lionfish after microscopic examination were found to have consumed microplastic fibers. 

   The next question I ask is, to what extent are our local fish/ marine animals influenced by the increase in foreign materials into their natural environment. Thank you for your question, as my research continues I hope you have many more!

Citations

Lepley, Max. “How Freshwater Fish Eat: Usually in One Go.” Infolific, 12 Oct. 2013, infolific.com/pets/fish-in-the-wild/underwater-eating/.

VOA. “Fish Use Whole Bodies When They Eat.” VOA, VOA, 19 July 2015, learningenglish.voanews.com/a/fish-use-whole-bodies-when-they-eat/2856879.html.