Microplastics in bottlenose dolphins and two key prey fish from Sarasota Bay, FL
Data files
Jun 29, 2026 version files 143.37 KB
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Martin_Repository_Data_FINAL.xlsx
132.53 KB
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README.md
10.84 KB
Abstract
This dataset includes suspected microplastic counts and characteristics from identified in samples from bottlenose dolphins (23 gastric fluid, 15 fecal) and two key prey fish species (pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, n=35; Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, n=30). Sample collection occurred between 2022 and 2024 in Sarasota Bay, FL, USA. Analyses of prey fish tissues included muscle and gastrointestinal tracts. All samples were digested using 10% KOH solution (24-72 hours) and filtered prior to particle identification via stereo microscopy and hot needle testing. Contents of the datafile include counts of total particles, counts of different particle shapes (i.e., fibers, films, fragments), and counts of particle shape by color. All data in this file have been blank-corrected to adjust for ambient contamination using a combination of field, laboratory, and procedural blanks.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.4j0zpc8pw
Description of the data and file structure
Samples were incubated in a 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution at 60 °C under a fume hood for 24 to 72 hours. After digestion, samples were vacuum-filtered onto GF/A 1.6 µm glass fiber filters under a fume hood. For samples particularly congested with solids and organic material, the digestate was filtered through sieves. The contents held in each sieve were then individually rinsed onto glass fiber filters using filtered water with the vacuum active. All sample filters were transferred to glass Petri dishes, covered, and left to dry. Each sample was visually screened for microplastics using a dissection microscope. Suspected plastic particles were characterized by shape (e.g., fiber, film, fragment, foam, sphere) and color (e.g., transparent, white, black, blue). Suspected plastic particles were distinguished from non-plastic particles (e.g., cotton) by testing them with a hot soldering needle set to 250 °C, a temperature at which most polymers melt. Particles were suspected to be plastic if the hot needle melted the particle's surface.
Files and variables
File: Martin_Repository_Data_FINAL.xlsx
Variables (Blank-Corrected Dolphin MP1 tab)
| DolphinID | Bottlenose dolphin identification number |
|---|---|
| SampleType | Sample Type = Fecal sample from bottlenose dolphin |
| SF_black | Counts of black single fibers |
| SF_green | Counts of green single fibers |
| SF_grey | Counts of grey single fibers |
| SF_pink | Counts of pink single fibers |
| SF_trans | Counts of transparent or white single fibers |
| SF_yellow | Counts of yellow single fibers |
| SF_yellowed | Counts of yellowed single fibers |
| Films_blue | Counts of blue films |
| Films_green | Counts of green films |
| Films_trans | Counts of transparent or white films |
| Foams_blue | Counts of blue foams |
| Foams_yellowed | Counts of yellowed foams |
| Foams_white | Counts of white foams |
| NonTWP_blue | Counts of blue irregular shard fragments |
| NonTWP_trans | Counts of transparent irregular shard fragments |
| NonTWP_yellow | Counts of yellow irregular shard fragments |
Variables (Blank-Corrected Dolphin MP2 tab)
| Variable Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| DolphinID | Bottlenose dolphin identification number |
| SampleType | Sample Type = Gastric fluid from bottlenose dolphin |
| SF_black | Counts of black single fibers |
| SF_blue | Counts of blue single fibers |
| SF_green | Counts of green single fibers |
| SF_grey | Counts of grey single fibers |
| SF_pink | Counts of pink single fibers |
| SF_trans | Counts of transparent or white single fibers |
| SF_yellow | Counts of yellow single fibers |
| SF_yellowed | Counts of yellowed single fibers |
| Films_grey | Counts of grey films |
| Films_trans | Counts of transparent or white films |
| Films_white | Counts of white films |
| Foams_trans | Counts of transparent or white foams |
| NonTWP_black | Counts of black irregular shard fragments |
| NonTWP_blue | Counts of blue irregular shard fragments |
| NonTWP_grey | Counts of grey irregular shard fragments |
| NonTWP_trans | Counts of transparent or white irregular shard fragments |
| TWP_black | Counts of black tire wear particles |
Variables (Blank-Corrected Fish Data)
| Variable Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| FishID | Fish identification number |
| GenusSpecies | Fish genus and species (Lr=Lagodon rhomboides; Ob=Opsanus beta) |
| SampleType | Type of sample, either gastrointestinal (FishGI) or muscle (FishMuscle) |
| FB_black | Counts of black fiber bundles |
| FB_blue | Counts of blue fiber bundles |
| FB_gray | Counts of gray fiber bundles |
| FB_multi | Counts of multi fiber bundles |
| FB_orange | Counts of orange fiber bundles |
| FB_pink | Counts of pink fiber bundles |
| FB_trans | Counts of transparent fiber bundles |
| FB_yellowed | Counts of yellowed fiber bundles |
| SF_black | Counts of black single fibers |
| SF_blue | Counts of blue single fibers |
| SF_brown | Counts of brown single fibers |
| SF_green | Counts of green single fibers |
| SF_gray | Counts of gray single fibers |
| SF_multi | Counts of multi single fibers |
| SF_orange | Counts of orange single fibers |
| SF_pink | Counts of pink single fibers |
| SF_purple | Counts of purple single fibers |
| SF_red | Counts of red single fibers |
| SF_trans | Counts of transparent single fibers |
| SF_white | Counts of white single fibers |
| SF_yellow | Counts of yellow single fibers |
| SF_yellowed | Counts of yellowed single fibers |
| FL_black | Counts of black films |
| FL_blue | Counts of blue films |
| FL_brown | Counts of brown films |
| FL_green | Counts of green films |
| FL_multi | Counts of multi films |
| FL_purple | Counts of purple films |
| FL_red | Counts of red films |
| FL_trans | Counts of transparent films |
| FL_white | Counts of white films |
| FL_yellowed | Counts of yellowed films |
| FO_blue | Counts of blue foams |
| FO_red | Counts of red foams |
| FO_trans | Counts of transparent foams |
| FO_white | Counts of white foams |
| FO_yellowed | Counts of yellowed foams |
| NTWP_black | Counts of black irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_blue | Counts of blue irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_brown | Counts of brown irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_gray | Counts of gray irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_multi | Counts of multicolored irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_orange | Counts of orange irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_pink | Counts of pink irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_purple | Counts of purple irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_red | Counts of red irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_trans | Counts of transparent irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_white | Counts of white irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_yellow | Counts of yellow irregular shard fragments |
| NTWP_yellowed | Counts of yellowed irregular shard fragments |
| TWP_black | Counts of black tire wear particles |
| SampleMass | Mass of sample (grams), either gastrointestinal (FishGI) or muscle (FishMuscle) |
Code/software
This file can be opened using Microsoft Excel
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- a subset of these data can also be found in these repositories:
- (fish data from Hart et al. 2023): https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fn2z34v1d
- (fish data from Conger et al. 2024): https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.nvx0k6f1d
These data were derived from the following sources:
- counts and visual descriptions via steromicroscopy and thermotesting
- Raman spectroscopy
- polymer determination via OpenSpecy