Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment, with microplastics (particles < 5 mm) a worldwide emergent contaminant of concern; however, no studies have explored historical patterns in fresh

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Archived Historical Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Specimens Suggest Connections Between Microplastic Abundance Patterns, Trophic Traits, and Land Use (2026) · doi

  Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment, with microplastics (particles < 5 mm) a worldwide emergent contaminant of concern; however, no studies have explored historical patterns in freshwater macroinvertebrates in connection to species traits and changes in land use.

  Keywords: plastic pollution ubiquitous environment microplastics particles worldwide emergent contaminant concern explored historical patterns freshwater macroinvertebrates
• Microplastics in Rivers of South America: An Emerging Area of Research (2025) · doi

  Microplastic research has primarily focused on oceans, whether in water, sediments, or organisms, generating a significant gap in understanding their presence and impact on other environments like rivers, which is a concern worldwide, and of paramount importance for us in Latin America and the Caribbean.

  Keywords: microplastic primarily focused oceans whether water sediments organisms generating significant understanding presence impact environments like
• Trophic transfer and egestion dynamics of microplastics in the Brachionus-Asplanchna rotifer system (2026) · doi

  In the environment, microplastics vary widely in size, shape, polymer type, and surface characteristics, and natural populations are typically subjected to chronic rather than acute exposure; these variables may alter ingestion, retention, and transfer Fig.

  Keywords: environment microplastics vary widely size shape polymer type surface characteristics natural populations typically subjected chronic