Microplastic pollution in the Thumbprint emperor (Lethrinus harak) from Tanzanian coastal waters: Occurrence, abundance, characterization, and relevance as a monitoring species

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dc.contributor.authorNchimbi, A. A.
dc.contributor.authorShilla, D. A.
dc.contributor.authorKosore, C. M.
dc.contributor.authorShilla, D. J.
dc.contributor.authorShashoua, Y.
dc.contributor.authorSørensen, C.
dc.contributor.authorKhan, F. R.
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-17T09:28:47Z
dc.date.available2024-08-17T09:28:47Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionFull-text. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103600
dc.description.abstractIn the present study we collected the Thumbprint emperor (Lethrinus harak) from seven landing sites from the coastal waters around Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania) to (i) quantify and characterize microplastics (MPs) in their digestive tracts and (ii) use previously assessed environmental levels in nearshore surface waters and seabed sediments to determine whether L. harak could be a relevant biomonitor for MP pollution in the region. L. harak (n=387) had an overall frequency of occurrence (FO%) of 48 % and displayed spatial variation between sites with Kunduchi (FO=66.7 %) and Mijimwena (FO=17.1 %) having the highest and lowest FO%, respectively. Fish from Mjimwema had a mean MP content of 0.17 ± 0.38 MPs individual-1 whilst fish from Kizimkazi had the highest MP abundance (1.75 ± 2.33 MPs individual-1). Fibers (overall 64.7 %, range across sites 48–86 %) and fragments (17.9 %, 5–25 %) were the most dominant MP types whilst black (46.9 %, 40–58 %) and blue (22.5%, 7–36 %) MPs were the most common colours. Fish length (ρ= -0.09, p=0.09) or weight (ρ=0.07, p=0.18) did not significantly correlate to MP abundance in fish (Spearman rank correlations). Neither MP occurrence nor abundance was linked to MP concentrations in either surface waters or seabed sediments (Spearman rank correlation), but MPs in the fish better reflected MPs in the sediment compared to surface water (two-way ANOVA on ranked data). Whilst L. harak presents as a promising candidate to monitor MP pollution along the East African coast due to its ecology, overall, it lacks reliability. Nonetheless, the present study fills important knowledge gaps both geographically on the East African Coast and with an underrepresented taxonomic family (Lethrinidae ‘Emporer fishes’).
dc.identifier.citationNchimbi, A. A., Shilla, D. A., Kosore, C. M., Shilla, D. J., Shashoua, Y., Sørensen, C., & Khan, F. R. (2024). Microplastic pollution in the thumbprint emperor (Lethrinus harak) from Tanzanian coastal waters: occurrence, abundance, characterization and relevance as a monitoring species. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 103600.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103600
dc.identifier.otherURL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103600
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.udom.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12661/4671
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartofRegional Studies in Marine Science
dc.subjectplastic pollution
dc.subjectEast Africa
dc.subjectWestern Indian Ocean (WIO) region
dc.subjectCoastal waters
dc.subjectbiomonitor
dc.titleMicroplastic pollution in the Thumbprint emperor (Lethrinus harak) from Tanzanian coastal waters: Occurrence, abundance, characterization, and relevance as a monitoring species
dc.typeArticle
oaire.citation.volume76
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