Determination of the presence of biomicroplastics in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Almus dam lake

Öz

This study aimed to investigate the gastrointestinal systems of carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Almus Dam Lake for microplastic ingestion. For this purpose, 30 carp specimens were purchased from local fishermen in Almus in July 2025. Morphometric measurements of the fish were taken, and their gastrointestinal systems were analyzed to determine abundance (number of microplastics per individual) and characterization (shape, color, and size) of microplastics. The percentage of fish contaminated with microplastics was 100%. The average number of microplastics per individual was calculated to be 12.66±7.55 MP/individual. Microplastic identification was performed using a stereo microscope for visual inspection. It was determined that the vast majority of microplastics were in fibrous form (72.11%), and the highest proportion in the color distribution was black, blue, and red microplastics. According to size distribution classification, the majority were smaller than 5 mm and were classified as microplastics. Furthermore, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between total length and the number of microplastics (Spearman's ρ = 0.42, p < 0.05). The study confirms the presence of microplastic pollution in the Almus dam reservoir and shows that carp are exposed to this pollution. This study contributes to the literature as it is one of the first microplastic studies conducted on fish in the Almus Dam Lake ecosystem. It is recommended that more effective solid waste management and monitoring mechanisms be implemented to reduce microplastic input into the Almus Dam Lake basin, particularly from fishing waste and human-induced pollution. Furthermore, regular biological monitoring programs based on standardized protocols should be implemented to track temporal changes in microplastic pollution in aquatic organisms.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bioaccumulation
• Freshwater fish contamination
• Ingestion
• Gastrointestinal tract

Almus baraj gölü Sazan (Cyprinus carpio) balıklarının gastrointestinal sistemlerinde mikroplastik varlığının belirlenmesi

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Almus Baraj Gölü'nde sazan balıklarının (Cyprinus carpio) gastrointestinal sistemleri mikroplastik yutulması açısından incelenmiştir. Bu amaçla, Temmuz 2025'te Almus'taki yerel balıkçılardan 30 adet sazan örneği satın alınmıştır. Balıkların morfometrik ölçümleri yapılmış, mikroplastiklerin bolluğunu (birey başına mikroplastik sayısı) ve karakterizasyonunu (şekil, renk ve boyut) belirlemek için sindirim sistemleri analiz edilmiştir. Mikroplastiklerle kontamine olmuş balıkların oranı %100 olarak belirlenmiştir. Birey başına düşen mikroplastik miktarı ortalaması 12.66±7.55 MP/birey olarak hesaplanmıştır. Mikroplastiklerin tanımlanması, görsel inceleme için stereo mikroskop kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Mikroplastiklerin büyük çoğunluğunun lif formunda olduğu (%72.11), renk dağılımında ise en yüksek oranın siyah, mavi ve kırmızı mikroplastiklere ait olduğu belirlenmiştir. Boyut dağılım sınıfına göre çoğunluğun 5 mm'den küçük olduğu ve mikroplastik sınıfına girdiği belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, toplam boy ile mikroplastik sayısı arasında pozitif yönde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olduğu saptanmıştır (Spearman korelasyon katsayısı, ρ = 0.42, p < 0.05). Almus baraj gölünde mikroplastik kirliliğinin varlığını doğrulamakta ve sazan balıklarının bu kirliliğe maruz kaldığını göstermektedir. Almus Baraj gölü ekosisteminde balıklar üzerinde gerçekleştirilen ilk mikroplastik çalışmalarından biri olması nedeniyle literatüre katkı sağlamaktadır. Almus Baraj Gölü havzasına, özellikle balıkçılık atıkları ve insan kaynaklı kirlilikten kaynaklanan mikroplastik girişini azaltmak için daha etkili katı atık yönetimi ve izleme mekanizmalarının uygulanması önerilmektedir. Ayrıca, sucul organizmaların mikroplastik kirliliğindeki zamansal değişimleri izlemek için standartlaştırılmış protokollere dayalı düzenli biyolojik izleme programları uygulanmalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Biyolojik birikim
• Tatlı su balıkları kirliliği
• Yutulma
• Gastrointestinal sistem

Kaynakça

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