Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics
Description
This dataset contains experimental measurements from a study investigating the ingestion and retention of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics (MPs) in juvenile tropical reef fish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus. The study assessed how polymer type (polystyrene vs. polycaprolactone), particle shape (films vs. fragments), size (100–400 μm), and colour (transparent vs. blue) influence MP ingestion preferences and gastrointestinal transit time (GTT). Data include: Individual fish identifiers and characteristics (e.g., weight, size) Type, shape, size, and colour of MPs offered Quantity and type of MPs ingested per fish after 2 h exposure Gastrointestinal transit time and depuration rate of MPs over 72 h Observed ingestion patterns and depuration dynamics for each polymer type The dataset supports the findings reported in: “Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics”, Marine Pollution Bulletin, MPB 119346. These data provide detailed information for understanding how polymer-specific physical traits influence ingestion and retention in reef fish, offering a valuable resource for replication studies, meta-analyses, and further research on microplastic pollution and the evaluation of biodegradable plastics.
Files
Steps to reproduce
This dataset allows replication and further analysis of microplastic (MP) ingestion and retention in juvenile spiny chromis damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus). To reproduce the experimental setup and analyses: Experimental Fish and Husbandry: * Fish (n = 72) were hatched from two clutches and reared in captivity at the Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility (MARF), James Cook University, under a 12:12 h light/dark cycle with enriched 40 L tanks. * Flow-through seawater (∼2.5 L min⁻¹, 45 μm filtered) was UV-sterilised and aerated. Temperature was recorded daily; pH, nitrate, and salinity biweekly. * Fish were fed formulated pellets (protein ≥50%, lipid ≥10%, 100–400 μm) at 6% body weight per day and acclimated 14 days prior to microplastic exposure. Microplastic Preparation: * Polystyrene (PS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) MPs were prepared as fragments (transparent and blue) and films (transparent). * MPs were sieved into three size ranges: 100–200, 201–300, 301–400 μm. * Polymer identity was confirmed via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and visualised using stereomicroscopy. Exposure Experiments: * Fish were starved 48 h prior to exposure. * Three ecotoxicokinetics experiments were conducted: one ingestion preference experiment (18 fish across 6 tanks) and two gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) experiments (24 fish each for PCL and PS). * Exposure lasted 2 h with 21.6 MPs L⁻¹ mixed with feed pellets; water flow and aeration were temporarily halted. * GTT and depuration were monitored over 72 h; fish were euthanised at designated time points and stored at -18 °C. Sample Processing and Microplastic Isolation: * Fish gastrointestinal tracts were dissected, weighed, and digested in 10% KOH at 40 °C for 48 h. * Digested samples were diluted with 70% ethanol, homogenised, and filtered through stacked stainless-steel meshes (26, 77, 250 μm). * MPs were photographed, measured (ImageJ), and polymer type confirmed with FTIR. Contamination Control: * All glassware, benches, and tools were triple-cleaned; samples covered during processing. * Procedural blanks (Milli-Q water and KOH) were included; no MPs detected. * Non-exposed control fish were processed to monitor background contamination. Data Analysis: * Fish condition factor (K) calculated: K = W / L³. * Depuration and GTT estimated using one-phase exponential decay models. * Microplastic count analysed using GLM, GLMM, and negative binomial models (R packages: lme4, MASS). Fixed factors: polymer type, shape, size, colour, standard length. Model fit verified using DHARMa residual diagnostics. This dataset provides all raw measurements of MP ingestion, retention, and depuration dynamics, enabling reproduction of statistical analyses, visualisations, and modelling of polymer-specific physical traits on microplastic processing in tropical reef fish.
Institutions
- James Cook UniversityQueensland, Townsville