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Searching for hotspots of neustonic microplastics in the Canary Islands
Summary
Researchers surveying surface waters around the Canary Islands found that microplastic concentrations varied enormously — from near-negligible levels to very high concentrations where sea-surface slicks (windrow accumulations) formed, particularly south of Gran Canaria. The study demonstrates that oceanographic features like wind-driven convergence zones create localised hotspots of floating microplastic pollution, which has implications for marine wildlife exposure in these areas.
In this study, we investigated the concentration, distribution, and characteristics of neustonic MPs in the Canary Islands, with a particular focus on the island leeward zones, where a high accumulation of floating marine microplastics is expected. Samples were collected with a manta net at 15 different sites from Alegranza to La Gomera during the IMPLAMAC expedition. The microplastic concentration in surface waters ranged from 0.27 MPs/m in Alegranza to 136.7 MPs/m in the south of Gran Canaria. The highest concentration of MPs found was due to the presence of a sea-surface slick, also called "marine litter windrow", formed in the south of Gran Canaria. The most abundant zooplankton group in the neuston was copepods, except at the marine litter windrow where fish larvae and eggs predominated. This indicates that coastal areas where marine litter windrows are formed have a high risk of MP ingestion and potential adverse effects on biota.