The Effect of Microplastics (MP) in Prey (Emerita analoga) on the Foraging Success of Sanderlings (Calidris alba)
Nicholas Tumbale
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: Jonathon Stillman
Small plastic particles (<5 mm) called microplastics (MPs) have been linked to food dilution, gastrointestinal blockage, and internal abrasion along with reproductive, developmental, and immune system impairment in over 1300 aquatic and terrestrial species including fish, mammals, birds, and insects (Thompson et al., 2024). Pacific mole crabs (Emerita analoga), a filter feeding invertebrate, often ingest microplastics through their feeding methods. These Pacific mole crabs may be an important mechanism for introducing microplastics into the food-web as they are an essential prey item for a variety of shorebirds species (Horn et al., 2019). In Northern California, Pacific mole crabs make up about 80% of the sanderling (Calidris alba) diet during March and April. Recent findings from a former Stillman Lab undergraduate found a correlation between microplastic contamination and the decreased burrowing ability (burrowing depth) of E. analoga, a key to their survival (Matthews, 2022). Given this, the study will test the hypothesis that foraging success will increase in areas of higher microplastic concentration. To test this, MP content in E. analoga will be analyzed and sanderling foraging efficiency will be observed in three sites across Northern California. This study will provide insight into how contaminants alter predator-prey interactions in coastal environments.