One of the recently recognised stressors in Arctic ecosystems concerns plastic litter. In this study, juvenile polar cod (Boreogadus saida) were investigated for the presence of plastics in their stomachs. Polar cod is considered a key species in the Arctic ecosystem. The fish were collected both directly from underneath the sea ice in the Eurasian Basin and in open waters around Svalbard. We analysed the stomachs of 72 individuals under a stereo microscope. Two stomachs contained non-fibrous microplastic particles. According to µFTIR analysis, the particles consisted of epoxy resin and a mix of Kaolin with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Fibrous objects were excluded from this analysis to avoid bias due to contamination with airborne micro-fibres. A systematic investigation of the risk for secondary micro-fibre contamination during analytical procedures showed that precautionary measures in all procedural steps are critical. Based on the two non-fibrous objects found in polar cod stomachs, our results show that ingestion of microplastic particles by this ecologically important fish species is possible. With increasing human activity, plastic ingestion may act as an increasing stressor on polar cod in combination with ocean warming and sea-ice decline in peripheral regions of the Arctic Ocean. To fully assess the significance of this stressor and its spatial and temporal variability, future studies must apply a rigorous approach to avoid secondary pollution.

中文翻译：

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北冰洋幼年极地鳕鱼 (Boreogadus Saida) 摄入塑料

北极生态系统中最近公认的压力源之一与塑料垃圾有关。在这项研究中，研究了幼年极地鳕鱼 (Boreogadus saida) 胃中是否存在塑料。极地鳕鱼被认为是北极生态系统中的关键物种。这些鱼是直接从欧亚盆地的海冰下面和斯瓦尔巴群岛周围的开阔水域收集的。我们在立体显微镜下分析了 72 个人的胃。两个胃含有非纤维状微塑料颗粒。根据 µFTIR 分析，颗粒由环氧树脂和高岭土与聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (PMMA) 的混合物组成。纤维物体被排除在该分析之外，以避免由于空气中的微纤维污染造成的偏差。对分析过程中二次微纤维污染风险的系统调查表明，所有程序步骤中的预防措施至关重要。基于在极地鳕鱼胃中发现的两种非纤维物体，我们的结果表明，这种具有重要生态意义的鱼类有可能摄入微塑料颗粒。随着人类活动的增加，塑料摄入可能对极地鳕鱼造成越来越大的压力，再加上北冰洋周边地区的海洋变暖和海冰减少。为了充分评估这种压力源的重要性及其时空变异性，未来的研究必须采用严格的方法来避免二次污染。基于在极地鳕鱼胃中发现的两种非纤维物体，我们的结果表明，这种具有重要生态意义的鱼类有可能摄入微塑料颗粒。随着人类活动的增加，塑料摄入可能对极地鳕鱼造成越来越大的压力，再加上北冰洋周边地区的海洋变暖和海冰减少。为了充分评估这种压力源的重要性及其时空变异性，未来的研究必须采用严格的方法来避免二次污染。基于在极地鳕鱼胃中发现的两种非纤维物体，我们的结果表明，这种具有重要生态意义的鱼类有可能摄入微塑料颗粒。随着人类活动的增加，塑料摄入可能对极地鳕鱼造成越来越大的压力，再加上北冰洋周边地区的海洋变暖和海冰减少。为了充分评估这种压力源的重要性及其时空变异性，未来的研究必须采用严格的方法来避免二次污染。