Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Animals
A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Environment and Climate Change".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 25
Special Issue Editors
Interests: applied ecological modeling; mechanistic models; metabolic theory; conservation; aquaculture (sea turtles, bivalves, fishes)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microplastics have emerged as a pervasive contaminant in aquatic ecosystems, raising concerns about their toxic effects on aquatic organisms. While their global distribution and ingestion by aquatic organisms are well documented, the mechanisms and long-term consequences of exposure remain less clear. This Special Issue, Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Animals, seeks to advance understanding of how microplastics affect aquatic species across multiple levels of biological organization. The scope extends to both direct effects, such as ingestion, tissue accumulation, and organ damage, and indirect effects arising from chemical leaching and the transport of co-contaminants and pathogens. We welcome contributions spanning biochemical, physiological, and behavioral responses across a diversity of species, and contributions that combine experimental, observational, environmental, and modeling approaches, as well as interdisciplinary perspectives linking toxicology, ecology, and policy.
We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Physiological and cellular effects of microplastic exposure;
- Behavioral and ecological responses, including reproduction, feeding, and species interactions;
- Chemical and microbial interactions, such as additive leaching and pathogen transport;
- Food web and ecosystem implications, including trophic transfer and bioaccumulation;
- Risk assessment, monitoring, and policy frameworks for mitigating microplastic impacts.
Through this collection, we aim to synthesize emerging insights, identify research gaps, and inform strategies for protecting aquatic life from the growing threat of plastic pollution.
Dr. Nina Marn
Dr. Vlatka Filipović Marijić
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- microplastics
- aquatic animals
- ecotoxicology
- food web dynamics
- biodiversity impacts
- environmental risk assessment
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
