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Detection and quantification of microplastics in Posidonia oceanica banquettes in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia
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This Tunisian study used the seagrass Posidonia oceanica as a natural microplastic trap in the Gulf of Gabes, finding pellets, threads, and fragments of polyethylene, polystyrene, and phthalate plasticizers accumulated in the leaves. Seagrass meadows appear to function as significant sinks for microplastics, both trapping them at the surface and potentially burying them in sediments through leaf fall. This matters because P. oceanica meadows are important coastal ecosystems, and their contamination with microplastics and plasticizers threatens the organisms that depend on them.
Plastic pollution and microplastic (MP) debris are some of the most significant solid waste pollutants, threatening the marine environment and causing sediment accumulation. Coastal seagrass areas are usually important habitats that support multiple living species and provide several ecosystem services. This study aimed to determine the abundance, characteristics, and composition of microplastics on the southern side of the Tunisian Mediterranean Sea by using Posidonia oceanica (P. oceanica) as a crucial trap for microplastics. Samples of Posidonia leaves were collected from the Tunisian coastal area of Gabes-City. The characterization of microplastic detritus was carried out by stereomicroscopy, and acid digestion of Posidonia tissue leaves was performed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs using NMR spectroscopy. The study revealed pellets, threads, and fragments of polymers as the frequent forms found in MPs. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and bis(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalates were the most abundant materials detected. P. oceanica leaves contributed notably to microplastic subsidence, seafloor horizontal migration, and sediment burial. Thus, marine flora appeared to be a good tool to detect and monitor plasticizers, and further studies of the P. oceanica seagrass areas will help in developing a more comprehensive knowledge of chemicals spreading over a geographical zone. The results obtained will be used for developing baseline data on plasticizer contamination on the wide-ranging marine coast.
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Researchers investigated how Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows accumulate microplastics in coastal sediments and the consequences for associated marine communities. The study found differences in microplastic abundance and composition at various depths and between vegetated and unvegetated sites, suggesting that seagrass beds may act as sinks for microplastic pollution with potential impacts on benthic organisms.
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Researchers measured plastic debris trapped within deposits of Posidonia oceanica seagrass wrack on three Maltese beaches, finding up to 102 plastic items per square meter and documenting the seagrass mats as useful indicators of coastal plastic pollution — including micro-, meso-, and macroplastics.
The trapping of microplastics in the Posidonia oceanica aegagropiles in Tunisian coastal areas—Southern Mediterranean
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Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination trapped in aegagropiles, the fibrous marine balls formed by Posidonia oceanica seagrass, along Tunisian coastal areas in the southern Mediterranean. The study found that these natural structures effectively trap microplastic particles from beach environments, providing both a useful indicator of local microplastic pollution levels and a natural mechanism for capturing plastic debris.
The role of seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica) as microplastics sink and vector to benthic food webs
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Researchers investigated how Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows trap and potentially transfer microplastics through marine food webs. The study found that the often-overlooked rhizome structures accumulated over twice as many microplastics as leaves, and while vegetated sediments contained fewer microplastics than bare seabed, the overall trapping capacity increases substantially when the meadow's full three-dimensional structure is considered.
Microplastic entrapment in Posidonia oceanica egagropiles: Spatial patterns from the Costa Blanca (Western Mediterranean, Spain)
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Scientists found that nearly 90% of natural fiber balls washed up on Mediterranean beaches contained microplastics, mostly tiny fibers from textiles and fishing gear. Surprisingly, "natural" protected beaches had more microplastics than urban ones. This matters because these seagrass ecosystems trap plastic pollution that could otherwise enter the food chain we rely on for seafood.
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