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Environmental Sources
Marine & Wildlife
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What influences the distribution of microplastics in the marine environment? An interdisciplinary study reveals key factors driving microplastic in the North Sea
The Science of The Total Environment2025
4 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 48
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Jens Meyerjürgens,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Jens Meyerjürgens,
Jens Meyerjürgens,
Jens Meyerjürgens,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Jens Meyerjürgens,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Isabel Goßmann,
Isabel Goßmann,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Michelle Albinus,
Michelle Albinus,
Michelle Albinus,
Andreas Held,
Michelle Albinus,
Michelle Albinus,
Michelle Albinus,
Oliver Wurl,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Cora Achtner,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Cora Achtner,
Cora Achtner,
Cora Achtner,
Cora Achtner,
Cora Achtner,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Andreas Held,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Oliver Wurl,
Brandy-Tiera Robinson,
Brandy-Tiera Robinson,
Brandy-Tiera Robinson,
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Brandy-Tiera Robinson,
Brandy-Tiera Robinson,
Brandy-Tiera Robinson,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Andreas Held,
Andreas Held,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Andreas Held,
Carola Lehners,
Oliver Wurl,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Thomas H. Badewien,
Oliver Wurl,
Carola Lehners,
Carola Lehners,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Andreas Held,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Lisa Gassen,
Lisa Gassen,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Samuel Mintah Ayim,
Samuel Mintah Ayim,
Andreas Held,
Oliver Wurl,
Andreas Held,
Thomas H. Badewien,
Samuel Mintah Ayim,
Oliver Wurl,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Thomas H. Badewien,
Thomas H. Badewien,
Thomas H. Badewien,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Oliver Wurl,
Oliver Wurl,
Oliver Wurl,
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher
Summary
Researchers deployed an autonomous surface vehicle in Germany's North Sea Bight to simultaneously sample air, sea surface microlayer, and underlying water for microplastics and extracellular polymeric substances. Combining in-situ oceanographic measurements with MP mass quantification, they found that EPS from microorganisms influences MP aggregation and transport dynamics, helping explain distribution patterns of MPs in the marine environment.
Microplastics (MP) are known to be ubiquitous. The pathways and fate of these contaminants in the marine environment are receiving increasing attention, but still knowledge gaps exist. In particular, the link between mass-based MP quantification and oceanographic parameters is often lacking. In this study, we aim to interconnect different parameters for the first time through in-situ measurements with an autonomous surface vehicle in the German Bight. It simultaneously sampled air, sea surface microlayer, and underlying water for analysis of MP and additionally, extracellular polymeric substances (only in water). These compounds, secreted by microorganisms, can interact with particulate matter, influencing their transport dynamics and aggregation behavior in the environment. During the entire sampling, a weather station and conductivity, temperature, and depth sensors were installed on the vehicle. Depth profiles were taken with an accompanying research vessel to learn more about the stratification and horizontal processes of MP in the marine environment. Additionally, an acoustic Doppler current profiler recorded water current velocities and flow direction. A relationship was found between wind direction and the presence of MP in the atmosphere. Furthermore, wind speeds may seem to increase heterogeneity in both the composition and concentration of MP in the water. A tentative correlation between extracellular polymeric substances and MP was documented. Investigating horizontal and vertical velocities of currents within the surface and the water column helped to explain the distribution of MP. Up- and downwelling processes corresponded to the accumulation of MP along density fronts and across depth profiles.