Villagómez-Velez, S.I., S.S., Lakshmi-Jeyakumar, F., Galván-Magaña, R., González-Armas, F., Rodríguez-González, L.M., Rios-Mendoza, L.J., Sánchez-Hernández & J., Muthuswamy-Ponniah (2025). Microplastic existence in two feeding zones of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in Gulf of California, Mexico. Ocean & Coastal Management. 272: 108012. DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108012.
Stephanie Itzel Villagómez-Velez 1, Sakthi Selva Lakshmi-Jeyakumar 2, Felipe Galván-Magaña 1, Rogelio González-Armas 1, Francisco Rodríguez-González 3, Lorena M. Rios-Mendoza 4, Lirio Jazmín Sánchez-Hernández 2 y Jonathan Muthuswamy-Ponniah 2
This study quantifies microplastics collected from two different feeding zones of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) from Bahia de los Angeles (BLA) and Bahia de La Paz (BLP) from Gulf of California using the Manta trawl method. Higher prevalence in BLP (287 items) than BLA (169 items) is dominated by fibers and fragments. Spatial distribution in BLP revealed MPs was (mean value 0.65 items/m3) among the five transect sites, whereas in BLA is 12.54 items/m3. Observed variability in this study was resulted from sampling technique that included depth, sampling time, speed, which is also found significant through the statistical analysis. Dominating morphotypes were fibers and fragments and surface features showed a strong thermo-oxidative weathering process with severe mechanical weathering process. Detected polymers of PP, PE, HDPE, PS, LDPE, PA also showed multiple origins from preexisting anthropogenic pressures. Though this study doesn't involve any biological samples, yet the current study emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring of MPs in Gulf of California, where ingestion of MPs will potentially affect the long time survival.
Palabras clave: Microplastics; Whale shark; Bahía de Los Ángeles; Bahía de La Paz; Gulf of California
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