
RESUMEN | La presencia creciente de microplásticos en ambientes marinos representa una amenaza para los organismos filtradores, como los bivalvos, los cuales muestran una capacidad limitada para escapar de la exposición a estos agentes, filtrando fácilmente las partículas de polímeros mediante su alimentación. En este estudio, se analizaron 160 mejillones provenientes de un banco natural y de un cultivo suspendido. Se evaluó su condición fisiológica a partir del índice de condición (IC3) y el rendimiento (R). Los microplásticos se separaron en las muestras para inspección visual usando un microscopio estereoscópico, cuantificando su abundancia y caracterizándolos físicamente. Los mejillones de cultivo mostraron mayores masas totales pero menor condición fisiológica (IC3 = 32,1; R = 4,43) en comparación con los organismos de vida libre (IC3 = 43,9; R = 1,24). Se registró una marcada diferencia en la carga de microplásticos: 315 partículas en el sistema de cultivo, en comparación a 12 partículas en el banco natural. En los grupos predominaron las fibras, siendo significativamente más abundantes en los ejemplares de cultivo. Se observó diferencias significativas en los índices fisiológicos y en la bioacumulación de microplásticos entre ambos grupos (Mann-Whitney U, P Andrady, A., P. Barnes, J. Bornman, T. Gouin, S. Madronich, C. White, R. Zepp y M. Jansen. 2022. Oxidation and fragmentation of plastics in a changing environment; from UV-radiation to biological degradation. Science of the Total Environment 851, Part 2. Acosta, V., A. Prieto, B. Licett, Y. Longart y M. Montes. 2011. Rendimiento, índice de condición y esfuerzo reproductivo del mejillón verde Perna viridis en cultivo de fondo en el Golfo de Cariaco, estado Sucre, Venezuela. Zootecnia Tropical 29 (4): 399-410. Alves, V., G. Figueiredo y G. Bay. 2019. 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