Impact of microplastics in Cronius ruber species

Abstract

The presence of microplastics in the stomach contents of the invasive species Cronius ruber (Lamarck,1818) has been studied on the island of Gran Canaria. For this purpose, four beaches were selected from which individuals were extracted for further analysis. The beaches chosen were Playa de las Nieves beach, El Puertillo beach, La Laja beach and Anfi del Mar beach. The species Cronius ruber of the Portunidae family is commonly known as invasive crab and since 2016 its presence in the Canary Islands has been known. Of the individuals studied, 52% were found to be contaminated. Of the microplastics found, a total of 89% corresponded to microplastic fibers. The most frequent colors were blue (52%) and black (19%). This study demonstrates for the first time the contamination by microplastics in the species Cronius ruber.