We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in the surface waters of a brazilian marine protected area - cagarras archipelago
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in surface waters of the Cagarras Archipelago Marine Protected Area (MONA Cagarras) off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using a manta trawl with 68 µm mesh deployed from a motorized vessel. The study examined whether this no-take MPA designated as a biodiversity Hope Spot is subject to microplastic pollution from surrounding urban waters.
Plastic waste affects several coastal and marine ecosystems in the world. Cagarras Archipelago, a no-take MPA in the Rio de Janeiro - Southeast Brazil, was designated as a Natural Monument (MONA Cagarras) and, more recently, recognized as a Hope Spot for biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assess microplastic contamination in MONA Cagarras and surrounding waters. Water sampling was conducted using a Manta trawl, with a net mesh size of 68 μm, deployed from the side of a motorized vessel. Two independent samplings with a flowmeter coupled in the trawl were conducted around the Palmas (4 km distant from the coast), Comprida (4.8 km distant from the coast), and Redonda (8.5 km distant from the coast) islands For the first time, microplastics were detected in the surface waters of Comprida, Palmas and Redonda islands from MONA Cagarras at mean concentrations (± SD) of 0.0033 (± 0.0009), 0.0020 (± 0.0003) and 0.0058 (± 0.0012) particles L-1, respectively. Fragments and black particle were the most frequently found shapes and colors in samples, respectively. µ-FTIR analysis of representative particles (n=161, 10.3 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559166/document
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in the surface waters of a brazilian marine protected area - cagarras archipelago
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the surface waters of MONA Cagarras, a no-take marine protected area and recognised Hope Spot in the Rio de Janeiro archipelago, using Manta trawl sampling with a 68 µm mesh net deployed from a motorised vessel. The study documents microplastic presence in a protected coastal area of high biodiversity value, raising questions about the effectiveness of conservation designations in shielding marine ecosystems from plastic pollution.
Evidence of plastics contamination and sewage-derived residues in a Brazilian Hope Spot for conservation of marine biodiversity - Cagarras Islands and surrounding waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found plastic contamination including microplastics in a protected marine conservation area near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, designated as a Hope Spot for biodiversity. Plastics made up about 79% of marine litter collected, and microplastics were detected in the water, with evidence suggesting contamination from nearby sewage overflow. The study shows that even officially protected marine areas are not safe from microplastic pollution, which threatens the biodiversity these reserves are meant to protect.
Microplastic contamination in surface waters in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled surface waters of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by horizontal plankton net trawling, finding microplastic concentrations ranging from 1.40 to 21.3 particles/m2 with chemical compositions identified by infrared spectroscopy. The results document widespread microplastic contamination in this heavily urbanised coastal bay.
Microplastics in a mosaic of Marine Protected Areas from southeastern Brazil: An assessment based on filter-feeding bivalves
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used filter-feeding bivalves as biological monitors to assess microplastic contamination across 28 marine protected areas along a heavily populated stretch of coastline in southeastern Brazil. They found microplastics in bivalves from all sites surveyed, demonstrating that protected status alone does not shield marine areas from plastic pollution. The study highlights how diffuse, transboundary plastic contamination reaches even designated conservation zones.
Microplastics Identification in an Environmental Reserve Area of Ilha de Itamaracá - PE
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in water, sediment, and biota from an environmental reserve area in Brazil, documenting contamination by particles originating from both fragmentation of larger plastic items and primary microplastics, showing that even protected coastal areas are not free of MP pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.