E-catalog        

This preliminary study investigated the abundance of microplastic particles in Bufo bufo L. larvae from the lake in the suburb of Tomsk (Western Siberia). A total of 20 larvae of B. bufo were selected, which were combined into 4 groups of 5 individuals, depending on the stage of development (Dabagyan, Sleptsova, 1975): 39–40, 44, 47–48, 51–52. Microplastic particles extracted from larvae were counted microscopically and classified by shapes and sizes. Microscopic analysis indicated the presence of microplastic particles in 100% of the examined specimens. In the samples under study, two types of microplastic particles were found — fibers (84%) and films (14%). Most of the detected microplastic particles were 150–2000 µm in size, with the majority belonging to the 300–1000 µm group. The largest number of microplastic particles was observed during the period of active growth and feeding of tadpoles (stage 44). A low number of microplastic particles and a decrease in their diversity are characteristic of larvae during the period of metamorphosis (stage 51–52) which is most probably connected with the changes in feeding