MICROPLASTIC FEEDING AND VITAL FUNCTION OF BIVALVES MERCENARIA MERCENARIA IN COASTAL ZONE OF TOKYO BAY

Abstract

 Microplastics (MPs) were detected in sand and mud samples collected from a variety of locations, at a total of 14 survey points, along the coast of Tokyo Bay. The relationship between the MPs contained in the digestive system and individual differences in the bivalve snail Mercenaria mercenaria inhabiting the Yatsu tidal flat in the innermost part of Tokyo Bay, and the amount of false excrement and MPs content from the feeding experiments with the addition of MPs. The number of MPs was counted and the water purification ability and impact on the ecosystem were studied. As a result, a positive correlation was found between the shell length and mass weight of Mercenaria mercenaria, and regarding the relationship between weight and MP content, the MP content began to spread irregularly when the weight exceeded 50 g and tended to decrease when the weight exceeded 150 g. In addition, although the added MPs were detected in the excreted simulated feces, it was not detected in the body, which affected the amount of filtered water as a biological function.