Microplastic accumulation and biomagnification in a coastal marine reserve situated in a sparsely populated area

Abstract

A B S T R A C TToxic chemicals within and adsorbed to microplastics (0.05-5 mm) have the potential to biomagnify in food webs. However, microplastic concentrations in highly productive, coastal habitats are not well understood. Therefore, we quantified the presence of microplastics in a benthic community and surrounding environment of a remote marine reserve on the open coast of California, USA. Concentrations of microplastic particles in seawater were 36.59 plastics/L and in sediments were 0.227 ± 0.135 plastics/g. Densities of microplastics on the surfaces of two morphologically distinct species of macroalgae were 2.34 ± 2.19 plastics/g (Pelvetiopsis limitata) and 8.65 ± 6.44 plastics/g (Endocladia muricata). Densities were highest in the herbivorous snail, Tegula funebralis, at 9.91 ± 6.31 plastics/g, potentially due to bioaccumulation. This study highlights the need for further investigations of the prevalence and potential harm of microplastics in benthic communities at remote locations as well as human population centers.

Investigating Microplastic Presence Amongst Grey Seals (Halichoerus Grypus) of the North Sea

“…However, what appears to be more probable is that the seals are ingesting bres indirectly via trophic transfer 21,45 . Previous studies have shown bres to have long body residence times in low-trophic level organisms, which would suggest an increased chance of secondary bre ingestion by predators 43,[46][47][48] . Microplastic bres may be transferred along food chains and re ected in greater proportions among high-trophic level species such as marine mammals 43,46,49 .…”

“…Previous studies have shown bres to have long body residence times in low-trophic level organisms, which would suggest an increased chance of secondary bre ingestion by predators 43,[46][47][48] . Microplastic bres may be transferred along food chains and re ected in greater proportions among high-trophic level species such as marine mammals 43,46,49 . Whether the higher relative number of bres compared to fragments observed here is representative of a biological process such as trophic transfer, or purely an incidental nding, is unknown.…”

“…Yet, the strict contamination measures employed, and absence of any microplastics present on our controls, and the mix of colours and bre types seen in our samples, makes this seem an unlikely explanation. More likely, the nding of higher levels of bres is likely to be re ective of the high relative levels of environmental bres 7,42,43 . Domestic washing, and the textiles industry expel large quantities of micro bres into water, which often evade ltration systems and/or municipal water treatment plants, and enter the ocean 44 .…”

Effects of pollution on marine organisms

“…Concentrations were positively correlated with water depth, and fibers were the most prevalent type of particle identified. Similarly, Saley et al (2019) measured microplastics in a benthic community near a remote marine reserve in California, United States, and found microplastics adhered to macroalgal surfaces at between 2.34 and 8.65 particles per gram. Saley et al (2019) also measured uptake in an herbivorous snail (Tegula funebralis) at higher concentrations than other benthic organisms, 9.91 ± 6.31 particles per gram, implying possible bioconcentration.…”

Occurrence and Polymer Types of Microplastics from Surface Sediments of Molawin Watershed of the Makiling Forest Reserve, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

“…Moreover, the smaller sizes of microplastic could be a great concern because it could be ingested by planktonic organisms and entrained by settling detritus (Cole et al, 2013;Botterell et al, 2019;Ballent et al, 2013). The entry of smaller size microplastics and nanoplastics in the planktonic food web could lead to further bioaccumulation and biomagnification in higher vertebrates (Saley et al, 2019;Akhbarizadeh et al, 2019). Hence, microplastics size are crucial nominators on determining the impact of microplastics on environment fauna.…”