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Microplastic Accumulation in Coral Reef Ecosystems at Peukan Bada District, Aceh Besar
Summary
Researchers collected sediment from coral reef sites in Aceh, Indonesia and found microplastics of three types — fibers, films, and fragments — at all locations, with densities ranging from 32 to 68 particles per kilogram. The study found a strong statistical association between microplastic abundance and the health of coral reef cover, suggesting a link between plastic pollution and reef degradation. This provides early evidence that microplastics may be contributing to the decline of coral ecosystems in Indonesian coastal waters.
Microplastics are plastic fragments measuring <5 mm, microplastics that enter the water can damage the growth of coral reefs. The aim of this research is to obtain accurate data on the distribution of microplastics, as an initial step in conservation and mitigation of the impact of plastic waste pollution in the Ujong Pancu area. Sediment samples were taken using coring method. Microplastic identification was carried out at the Marine Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Syiah Kuala University using a binocular microscope with zig-zag pattern identification. The results of this study are that there are three types of microplastic found in Ujong Pancu waters, namely fiber, film, and fragment types. The average abundance of microplastics in Ujong Pancu Waters ranges from 32-68 particles/kg. The highest average abundance of microplastics is in the northwestern part of Pulau Tuan and the lowest is in Lhok Mata Ie Beach. The highest type of microplastic found was film and the lowest type of microplastic found was fiber. The condition of coral reefs in Ujong Pancu waters is in the moderate category. The relationship between microplastic abundance and the percentage of live coral cover and environmental parameters was 85.01 %.