Feeding Ecology and Microplastic Contamination of Planktophagous Fishes in a tropical Southwestern Atlantic Estuarine Ecosystem

This study describes the spatial and temporal distribution of density and biomass, feeding ecology and contamination by microplastics (MPs) in <italic>A. clupeoides</italic> and <italic>C. edentulus</italic> in the Goiana Estuary. <italic>A. clupeoides</italic> were found in all portions of the estuary, mainly in the late rainy and late dry seasons. <italic>C. edentulus</italic> was found in the upper and lower portions of the estuary mainly in the late dry season. <italic>A. clupeoides</italic>’ adult specimens fed mainly on copepods in the lower estuary during the beginning of the rainy season when they were contaminated by black MPs. <italic>A. flexuosa</italic> larvae were consumed by subadults in the lower portion during the final rainy season and by juveniles in the lower portion during the end of the dry season when they were contaminated by the same type and color of MPs. The species <italic>C. edentulus</italic> both adults and subadults feed on <italic>Coscinodiscus sp</italic>. and <italic>Actinopthycus sp</italic>. in the lower portion during the final rainy season. At this time, adults were contaminated by blue MPs. MPs’ samples were analyzed by FTIR, were composed of polyethylene<italic>.</italic>

Key words
Engraulidae; Fish Contamination; Plankton feeder; Polyethylene Fibers