Microplastics have been found in deep-sea animals from hydrothermal vents over 2,000 meters deep, linking remote ecosystems to surface plastic pollution.
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The study analyzed vent fauna from the North Fiji Basin and the Central Indian Ridge, identifying species using mitochondrial COI DNA barcoding.
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Microplastics were detected in 92% of examined animals, with polystyrene being the most common polymer identified among 40 particles.
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Feeding behavior influenced microplastic accumulation, with grazing snails concentrating particles in internal organs and filter-feeding mussels distributing them evenly.
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Regional differences showed Indian Ocean animals had higher microplastic loads and a broader polymer profile than those from the southwestern Pacific.
