Project Microplastics within White Mullet Program Individual Research & Mentoring Opportunities Term Spring 2025 Status Pending Research Area Biology Description Microplastic pollution is a growing concern in marine environments, with increasing evidence of ingestion by fishes. White mullet (Mugil curema) is a food source for many bird and fish species, yet little research has been conducted on their microplastic consumption. This study analyzed microplastic presence in the dorsal muscle and the gastrointestinal tracts of white mullet collected from the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) near Cedar Key, FL. A previous study on microplastics in white mullet from a different region of the GoM reported an average of a few microplastics per individual. In contrast, this study found as many as 88 microplastic particles in the white mullet collected near Cedar Key. Most microplastics observed were consistent with degraded synthetic textiles and fishing plastics. This study highlights the need for further research on microplastic contamination in commercial and ecologically important fish species and the potential implications for GoM food webs. Supervisor Madelyn Stabnik Mentor Type of work required Analyzed microplastic presence in the dorsal muscle and the gastrointestinal tracts of white mullet Websites Qualifications Relevance of White Mullet (Mugil curema), comparison with previous studies, sampling from a marine environment, analysis of multiple tissues Credit Hours 0 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)