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Fiddler Crabs Break Down Microplastics, Risking Food Chain

12/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The University of Exeter study finds fiddler crabs in a polluted mangrove forest in Colombia can break down microplastics.
The crabs ingest significant amounts of sediment-bound microplastics and degrade them within days, according to researchers who caution this could release harmful nanoplastics into their tissues and the food chain.
Professor Tamara Galloway noted it was previously unclear whether fiddler crabs avoided plastic or adapted to its presence in their environment.

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Story summary

The University of Exeter study finds fiddler crabs in a polluted mangrove forest in Colombia can break down microplastics.
The crabs ingest significant amounts of sediment-bound microplastics and degrade them within days, according to researchers who caution this could release harmful nanoplastics into their tissues and the food chain.
Professor Tamara Galloway noted it was previously unclear whether fiddler crabs avoided plastic or adapted to its presence in their environment.