(Micro)Plastics Are Toxic Pollutants.

Plastics, including microplastics, have generally been regarded as harmful to organisms because of their physical characteristics. There has recently been a call to understand and regard them as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. This review elaborates on the reasons that microplastics in particular should be considered as "toxic pollutants". This view is supported by research demonstrating that they contain toxic chemicals within their structure and also adsorb additional chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), from the environment. Furthermore, these chemicals can be released into tissues of animals that consume microplastics and can be responsible for the harmful effects observed on biological processes such as development, physiology, gene expression, and behavior. Leachates, weathering, and biofilm play important roles in the interactions between microplastics and biota. Global policy efforts by the United Nations Environmental Assembly via the international legally binding treaty to address global plastic pollution should consider the designation of harmful plastics (e.g., microplastics) with associated hazardous chemicals as toxic pollutants.

Supporting Spartina: Interdisciplinary perspective shows Spartina as a distinct solid genus.

In 2014, a DNA-based phylogenetic study confirming the paraphyly of the grass subtribe Sporobolinae proposed the creation of a large monophyletic genus Sporobolus, including (among others) species previously included in the genera Spartina, Calamovilfa, and Sporobolus. Spartina species have contributed substantially (and continue contributing) to our knowledge in multiple disciplines, including ecology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, biogeography, experimental ecology, biological invasions, environmental management, restoration ecology, history, economics, and sociology. There is no rationale so compelling to subsume the name Spartina as a subgenus that could rival the striking, global iconic history and use of the name Spartina for over 200 yr. We do not agree with the subjective arguments underlying the proposal to change Spartina to Sporobolus. We understand the importance of both the objective phylogenetic insights and of the subjective formalized nomenclature and hope that by opening this debate we will encourage positive feedback that will strengthen taxonomic decisions with an interdisciplinary perspective. We consider that the strongly distinct, monophyletic clade Spartina should simply and efficiently be treated as the genus Spartina.

Bioaccumulation and depuration of metals in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) from a contaminated and clean estuary.

Blue crabs from a contaminated estuary (Hackensack Meadowlands-HM) and a cleaner reference site (Tuckerton-TK) were analyzed for Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn in muscle and hepatopancreas. Crabs from each site were taken into the laboratory and fed food from the other site, or in another experiment, transplanted to the other site for eight weeks. All crabs were analyzed for metals. Overall, tissue concentrations reflected environmental conditions. Tissue differences were found for Cu, Pb and Zn (all higher in hepatopancreas), and Hg (higher in muscle). HM muscle had more Hg than TK muscle, but did not decrease after transplanting or consuming clean food. HM crabs lost Cu, Pb and Zn in hepatopancreas after being fed clean food or transplanted. TK crabs increased Hg in muscle and Cr and Zn in hepatopancreas after transplantation or being fed contaminated (HM) food. Concentrations were variable, suggesting that blue crabs may not be fully reliable bioindicators of polluted systems.

Reproductive, developmental, and neurobehavioral effects of methylmercury in fishes.

In the decades since the Minamata tragedy in Japan, there has been a considerable body of research performed on effects of methylmercury in fishes. The studies have revealed that some of the most sensitive responses seen in fishes are reminiscent of the symptoms experienced by the Minamata victims. This article reviews the literature, with a focus on mercury's effects on fish reproduction (hormone levels, gametogenesis, fertilization success), embryonic development (morphological abnormalities, rate), the development of behavior, and neurobehavioral effects in adults. Both experimental exposures and epidemiological approaches are included. There have been many studies demonstrating delayed effects of mercury exposure in that exposures during one life history stage can produce effects much later during different life history stages. For example, exposure of maturing gametes can result in abnormal embryos, even though the embryos were not themselves exposed to the toxicant. Exposures during sensitive embryonic periods can produce long-lasting effects that can be seen in adult stages. The existence of these manifold delayed effects renders the practice of short-term toxicity testing particularly unhelpful for understanding the effects of this (and other) toxicants.

Molting as a mechanism of depuration of metals in the fiddler crab, Uca pugnax.

Metal distributions in the exoskeleton and soft tissues of the fiddler crab, Uca pugnax, were examined during intermolt and immediate postmolt to determine if distribution of the metals changed prior to molting and to determine if molting is a feasible mechanism to depurate metals. Fiddler crabs were collected from two locations in New Jersey, a highly contaminated site and a relatively clean environment. The crabs from the contaminated site had higher concentrations of metals in their soft tissues for Cu, significantly higher concentrations of Pb in their soft tissues and carapace, but did not have any significant differences in concentrations of Zn in comparison to their conspecifics from the relatively clean site during intermolt. Crabs from the contaminated site has significantly higher levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn in both their soft tissues and exuvia immediately after molting. Crabs from both sites shifted copper and zinc from the carapace into the soft tissues prior to molting. Lead distribution shifted from the soft tissues to the exoskeleton prior to molting in the population from the contaminated site but shifted from the exoskeleton into the soft tissues for the relatively clean site. Average percent of the total body burden eliminated during the molting process for the highly contaminated site varied with each metal, 12% Cu, 76% Pb, and 22% Zn. Average percent of the total body burden eliminated during molting process for the relatively clean site also varied with each metal and was significantly lower than the conspecifics from the contaminated site, 3% Cu, 56% Pb, and 8% Zn. Molting can reduce overall body burdens significantly and is a feasible mechanism to depurate lead.

Studies of a contaminated brackish marsh in the Hackensack Meadowlands of Northeastern New Jersey: benthic communities and metal contamination.

Cores taken from 16 stations within Eight Day Swamp, a highly contaminated marsh in the Hackensack Meadowlands, were analyzed for metal concentrations and for benthic community structure. Metal levels were compared with the benchmark ERM values, and expressed in terms of toxic units. Mercury was the most important metal in all the samples in terms of its contribution to the total toxic units. The overall abundance and taxa richness in the benthic community were associated with the height of the location relative to the tidal cycle, but were generally not significantly correlated with metal concentrations at the sites. Ordination of the communities showed that the communities that were low-lying (on the mudflat) were most similar to one another, and those that were higher up on the marsh were most similar to one another. However, diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener H' and Simpson's) were significantly associated with concentrations of the metals (except As) and with the sum of the toxic units at a station.

Metal dynamics of plant litter of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis in metal-contaminated salt marshes. Part 1: Patterns of decomposition and metal uptake.

To investigate the decay rate and metal uptake in litter from two species of wetland plants, leaves and stems of senescent Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis (P) were obtained from the Hackensack Meadowlands (NJ, USA) in October 1998, and their initial metal contents were determined. Two types of S. alterniflora were obtained, one set from a natural site (NS) and one from a restored site (RS). Leaves and stems were placed in separate litterbags, and samples of each type were reciprocally transplanted into each of the three collection sites (NS, RS, and P) as well as in the laboratory, where they were alternately dried and wetted. Litterbags were retrieved from the field at four six-month intervals and after one year from the laboratory. Annual decay coefficients were greater for leaves than for stems. Stems of P. australis initially decomposed more slowly (37-63% remaining) than those of S. alterniflora (23-53 % remaining), but after two years, decay was comparable (8-40% remaining for both species). Decomposition was slower at the RS site than at the other field sites, and it was slowest in the laboratory. Metal concentrations initially were lower in stems than in leaves, and Cr, Pb, and Zn were lower in P. australis than in S. alterniflora. In the field, large increases (10- to 100-fold) in metal concentrations rapidly obliterated any initial differences between plant species. Metal concentrations in leaves rose more quickly and remained greater than in stems. For example, Cu approached 300 microg/g in leaves but was less than 200 microg/g in stems. In contrast to the modest rise in metal concentrations in the leaf tissue at the more contaminated RS site (Zn rose to approximately 200 microg/g in sediments containing approximately 400 microg/g), Cu and Zn concentrations in leaf litter at the P and NS sites increased to levels exceeding those in the surrounding sediment (Zn rose to approximately 500 microg/g in sediments containing approximately 200 microg/g). Temporal changes in metal pools (grams of metal per litterbag) were not discernable because of the negative correlation of mass remaining and metal concentrations as well as because of the great variability of metal concentrations within each treatment. Decomposition and the accumulation of metals may be influenced more by differences between tissue types than by species or sediment metal concentrations.

Interactions of metals affect their distribution in tissues of Phragmites australis.

Culms of Phragmites australis were grown in vermiculite in a greenhouse. Some plants were exposed to 1000 microg/g Cu or Pb or Zn, or combinations of two or three of those metals. When plants reached senescence, they were harvested and analyzed for metal concentrations in upper leaves, lower leaves, stems and roots. While all metals accumulated in highest concentrations in the roots, Zn accumulated in aboveground tissues far more than the other metals. Furthermore, the concentration of any one metal in the different tissues was affected by the presence of other metals. The amount of copper in upper leaves increased when Zn was also present with the Cu. The amount of Cu in roots was increased in the presence of Pb and/or Zn. The amount of Zn in lower leaves was reduced when Cu was also present along with Zn. Thus, when combinations of metals were present, the distribution of metals was altered. The most important interactions appeared to be of Cu and Zn, which may reflect competition for binding sites on metal-binding proteins.

Metal uptake, transport and release by wetland plants: implications for phytoremediation and restoration.

Marshes have been proposed as sites for phytoremediation of metals. The fate of metals within plant tissues is a critical issue for effectiveness of this process. In this paper we review studies that investigate the effects of plants on metals in wetlands. While most of these marsh plant species are similar in metal uptake patterns and in concentrating metals primarily in roots, some species retain more of their metal burden in below ground structures than other species, which redistribute a greater proportion of metals into above ground tissues, especially leaves. Storage in roots is most beneficial for phytostabilization of the metal contaminants, which are least available when concentrated below ground. Plants may alter the speciation of metals and may also suffer toxic effects as a result of accumulating them. Metals in leaves may be excreted through salt glands and thereby returned to the marsh environment. Metal concentrations of leaf and stem litter may become enriched in metals over time, due in part to cation adsorption or to incorporation of fine particles with adsorbed metals. Several studies suggest that metals in litter are available to deposit feeders and, thus, can enter estuarine food webs. Marshes, therefore, can be sources and well as sinks for metal contaminants. Phragmites australis, an invasive species in the northeast U.S. sequesters more metals below ground than the native Spartina alterniflora, which also releases more via leaf excretion. This information is important for the siting and use of wetlands for phytoremediation as well as for marsh restoration efforts.

Is the invasion of the common reed, Phragmites australis, into tidal marshes of the eastern US an ecological disaster?

Studies of effects of the invasive brackish marsh plant Phragmites australis (common reed) on estuarine biota are reviewed. With few exceptions, most field studies indicate that these P. australis-dominated marshes have diverse and abundant benthic biota, and are utilized by nekton, comparable to Spartina alterniflora marshes. However, larval mummichogs, Fundulus heteroclitus, appear to be reduced in P. australis marshes compared with S. alterniflora marshes. Small epifauna living on plant stems also appear to be denser on S. alterniflora than P. australis stems. Other studies indicate that the detritus produced by decaying P. australis litter provides food value comparable to that of S. alterniflora and that its production enters estuarine food webs. Therefore, the general assumption that these marshes are ecologically "useless" is untrue. This information should be considered by marsh managers when making decisions about restoration projects.

Evaluating prey capture by larval mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) as a potential biomarker for contaminants.

We evaluated larval prey capture as a "behavioral biomarker" of contamination by examining feeding behavior of larval mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) from many different sites, including a severely contaminated "Superfund" site, moderately contaminated sites, and reference areas. Prey capture ability was related to sediment contaminant levels. The levels of contaminants at a site were highly correlated with each other, so that the impact of individual contaminants was confounded. The number of captures of brine shrimp by mummichog larvae from all sites was highly variable, but significant negative correlations of prey capture were seen with mercury, lead, zinc, cadmium, and PCBs. As observed previously with adults, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) did not appear to impair prey capture ability. The only site in which prey capture rates of 8-day old larvae were severely affected was the most highly contaminated Superfund site, Berry's Creek, NJ. This implies that larval prey capture is not as sensitive a behavioral biomarker for contamination as adult behavior studied previously.

Mercury uptake by the estuarine species Palaemonetes pugio and Fundulus heteroclitus compared with their parasites, Probopyrus pandalicola and Eustrongylides sp.

When exposed to methylmercury in the laboratory, grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, parasitized by the isopod Probopyrus pandalicola, accumulated lower concentrations of mercury than their unparasitized counterparts. The parasitic isopod accumulated far less mercury than the grass shrimp. When exposed to mercury in a contaminated field site, mummichogs, Fundulus heteroclitus, parasitized with the nematode Eustrongylides, similarly accumulated lower concentrations of mercury than unparasitized fish, and the parasite similarly accumulated less than the host. The lower uptake by the parasites compared to their hosts is counter to the general view of biomagnification of methylmercury, since parasites are a trophic level above their hosts. The mechanism whereby parasitized animals accumulate less toxicant than unparasitized ones is unknown, but may be partially due to lower metabolic rate.

Contamination of saltmarsh sediments and biota by CCA treated wood walkways.

Sediments, marsh grasses, and ribbed mussels were collected under two CCA wood walkways (15 and 3 years old) and 1, 3, and 10 m out, in the high, middle and low marshes. These sediments, and samples from reference sites, were analyzed for Cu, Cr, and As by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Metal concentrations were highly elevated under the walkways and up to 10 m away. Dispersal of contaminants near the old walkway was greatest in the low marsh, less in the middle, and least in the high marsh, corresponding to periods of tidal inundation. Accumulation under the walkway was generally greatest in the low marsh. Contamination was much higher in sediments under the new walkway than the old one, but metals had not dispersed as far. Accumulation patterns in plants were similar, but the contamination did not disperse as far and was not greater under the new vs the old walkway, despite differences in sediment concentrations. In mussels, bioaccumulation was seldom statistically significant, due largely to small sample sizes.