Marine plastics in Mediterranean islands: Evaluating the distribution and composition of plastic pollution in the surface waters along four islands of the Western Sea Basin

Fagiano, V.; Compa, Montserrat; Alomar, Carme; García-Marcos, K; Deudero, Salud

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119268

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Not only anthropogenic areas are exposed to plastic pollution but some studies indicate that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) or areas with some type of protection status can be even more exposed to plastic pollution than anthropogenic areas (Compa et al 2022a , b ). Additionally, similar sea surface plastic abundances have been quantified in protected areas, with no local land-based contamination sources, and high anthropized areas in the western Mediterranean Sea (Fagiano et al 2022 ). Moreover, plastics quantified in the protected areas were made up of small items, mainly fragments (Fagiano et al 2022 ), which could be indicating the transportation and fragmentation of larger plastic items into smaller particles in the marine environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Additionally, similar sea surface plastic abundances have been quantified in protected areas, with no local land-based contamination sources, and high anthropized areas in the western Mediterranean Sea (Fagiano et al 2022 ). Moreover, plastics quantified in the protected areas were made up of small items, mainly fragments (Fagiano et al 2022 ), which could be indicating the transportation and fragmentation of larger plastic items into smaller particles in the marine environment. Marine protected areas are frequently made up of small islands and islets which are generally exposed to meteorological factors that might enhance plastic accumulation and retention (Compa et al 2022a , b ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Results from this study are significantly lower than microplastics quantified in an anthropogenized area also in the Balearic Islands (Mallorca: 0.31 ± 0.09 MPs/m 2 (Alomar et al 2022 ) and also along oligotrophic Mediterranean coastal waters of Israel where a mean abundance of 7.68 ± 2.38 particles/m 3 or 1,518,340 particles/km 2 was observed with some areas having higher abundances of microplastics than others, but in this case, differences were not significant (van der Hal et al 2017 ). Additionally, microplastic abundances where quantified along four islands in the Western Mediterranean Sea (Mallorca, Cabrera MPA, Menorca and Columbretes) and mean abundances were higher around Menorca in comparison to the other islands (Fagiano et al 2022 ). However, results from the present research show that sea surface microplastic abundance in the study area is lower than values in coastal areas around Mallorca (Compa et al 2020 ) and Cabrera MPA, both in the Balearic Islands and in Columbretes MPA in the western Mediterranean Sea (Fagiano et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, microplastic abundances where quantified along four islands in the Western Mediterranean Sea (Mallorca, Cabrera MPA, Menorca and Columbretes) and mean abundances were higher around Menorca in comparison to the other islands (Fagiano et al 2022 ). However, results from the present research show that sea surface microplastic abundance in the study area is lower than values in coastal areas around Mallorca (Compa et al 2020 ) and Cabrera MPA, both in the Balearic Islands and in Columbretes MPA in the western Mediterranean Sea (Fagiano et al 2022 ). Variability in microplastic abundances along the Mediterranean Sea can be due to local and regional currents given that oceanographic regimes play an important role in microplastic distribution along marine ecosystems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Monitoring microplastics in coastal waters of a biosphere reserve: a case study in Menorca (Spain)

Alomar,

Rios-Fuster,

Cefalì

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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This study provides with evidence of the presence of sea surface microplastics in a UNESCO marine biosphere reserve: the island of Menorca in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. From a total of 90 samples, in 100% of the samples, microplastics were observed with a mean value of 0.18 ± 0.01 items/m2. According to data, no significant differences were observed for sampling period with very similar values between 2021 (0.17 ± 0.02 items/m2) and 2022 (0.18 ± 0.02 items/m2). However, significant differences were observed regarding sampling area (both site and locality) suggesting that sea surface plastics in the study area might be more dependent of the spatial scale rather than on the temporal scale. Fibre type microplastics predominated over fragments, films, pellets, and foams, but in the commercial Port de Maó, almost 50% of the identified items were foams which could be related to the transportation of packed goods to this port. Results from the model applied to study the relation between waste management indicators and microplastic abundance indicate that when considering all marine litter categories, the explanatory variables are plastic waste generated by residents population (tonnes/year/km2) and waste collection rate (%), whereas if only plastics are considered, the indicator regarding waste per capita (kg/hab/year) is also included. Data in this study is obtained through a harmonized protocol which can be used to define baseline and threshold values to evaluate good environmental status regarding descriptor 10 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Monitoring microplastics in coastal waters of a biosphere reserve: a case study in Menorca (Spain)

Alomar,

Rios-Fuster,

Cefalì

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Seafloor sediment studies have highlighted concentrations of plastic fragments in shallow coastal sediments within Cabrera in addition to the presence of plastic additives such as benzyl butyl phthalate and Crelan ® within the seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica [ 32 , 33 ]. In the nearby MPA of the Menorca Channel, Ruiz-Orejón et al (2019) [ 35 ], plastic particles floating on the sea surface range in size from 138,293 (±125,854) items/km 2 in autumn and 347,783 (± 457,128) items/km 2 in spring, while in the Cabrera MPA, Fagiano et al (2022) [ 36 ] identified an abundance of plastic particles which were measured at 3.52 (±8.81) items/m 3 . With this in mind, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the potential implications posed by marine plastic on marine diversity within Cabrera MPA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multispecies Assessment of Anthropogenic Particle Ingestion in a Marine Protected Area

Compa

Alomar

Cortès³

et al. 2022

Biology

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We have applied a multispecies ecosystem approach to analyse the ingestion of anthropogenic particles (AP) in the gastrointestinal tract of 313 individuals (17 fish species and 8 invertebrate species) from pelagic, demersal and benthic habitats in a marine protected area off the Western Mediterranean (Cabrera National Park). We have quantified and characterized the ingestion at several taxonomic levels of fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, bivalves, and jellyfish in relation to biotic/abiotic factors based on taxonomic groups, trophic guilds (functional groups) and habitats. AP ingestion occurrence ranged from 26 to 100% with no significant differences among taxonomic groups. The fish within the MPA showed an overall ingestion occurrence ranging from 0 to 100%, the echinoderms from 29 to 100%, the bivalves from 72 to 96% and the jellyfish 36% ingestion. The ecosystem approach applied to evaluate overall AP ingestion within the species reported that for trophic guilds, the omnivorous species ingested the highest amounts of anthropogenic items, while herbivores ingested significantly fewer items than all other trophic guilds. Moreover, no significant differences were found amongst habitats, indicating a homogeneous spatial distribution of APs at all studied habitats. The multispecies approach provided insight into the high APs exposure to species within Cabrera MPA, highlighting the potential harm linked with marine litter that threatens marine biodiversity.

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Ingestion of microplastics and microfibers by the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) in the Balearic Islands, Spain

Compa,

Perelló,

Box

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 is native to the western coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and is currently considered an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we examined the stomach contents of C. sapidus to determine the frequency of occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) in the Balearic Islands archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea. A total of 120 individuals were collected from six locations between 2017 and 2020. Overall, 65.8% of the individuals had MPs and/or MFs particles with an average of 1.4 ± 1.6 particles ind.−1 of which an average of 1.0 ± 1.3 items ind.−1 were MFs and an average of 0.4 ± 0.8 items ind.−1 were MPs. In terms of type, fragments were the dominant type of MPs and the most common size of items ranged from between 0.5 and 1 mm (40%) followed by 1–5 mm (31%). The most prevalent polymers were low-density polyethylene (39%) and high-density polyethylene (26%). In terms of links to human activities, MP ingestion was positively correlated with an increase in drain pipes, whereas MF ingestion was positively correlated with an increase in sewage pipelines, providing evidence of potential sources and the bioavailability of these particles in various environments. This study confirms the widespread presence of MP and MF particles, even in areas that are currently managed under different protection statuses, in the stomach contents of invasive blue crab species throughout coastal communities.

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Marine plastics in Mediterranean islands: Evaluating the distribution and composition of plastic pollution in the surface waters along four islands of the Western Sea Basin

Cited by 18 publications

References 79 publications

Monitoring microplastics in coastal waters of a biosphere reserve: a case study in Menorca (Spain)

Monitoring microplastics in coastal waters of a biosphere reserve: a case study in Menorca (Spain)

Multispecies Assessment of Anthropogenic Particle Ingestion in a Marine Protected Area

Ingestion of microplastics and microfibers by the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) in the Balearic Islands, Spain

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