Microplastic pollution and dam removals: Potential effects on macro-invertebrates.

BLETTLER MARTIN

Chinon

Workshop; Ecohydraulics and dam removal, 2nd meeting; 2018

LE STUDIUM, Institute for advanced studies, Loire Valley

The vast majority of research conducted to date on plastic pollution has focused on marine ecosystems. In comparison, only a few studies provide evidence for the presence of plastic debris in freshwater environments (87% vs 13%). Owing to the numerous differences between freshwater studies (including studied species and habitats, geographical locations, social and economic contexts, the type of data obtained and also the broad range of purposes), they show only fragments of the overall picture of freshwater plastic pollution. Plastic research in the marine environment has focused on a wide range of organisms; birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, mollusks, decapods, bacteria, algae and fungus. However, there is only a few studies evaluating impacts on freshwater fauna. Information about freshwater fish, birds, bacteria, mosses, algae and invertebrates are still poorly available. The above highlights the lack of a holistic vision and evidences several knowledge gaps and data biases on plastic pollution in freshwater systems.