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Seasonal tendencies of microplastics around coral reefs in selected Marine Protected National Parks of Gulf of California, Mexico
Summary
Researchers examined seasonal microplastic occurrence in coral reef sediments at two marine protected national parks in the Gulf of California, Mexico, finding higher concentrations at Cabo Pulmo (avg. 680 items/100g d.w.) than Espiritu Santo Island (avg. 322 items/100g d.w.). SEM/EDS analysis revealed that surface-altered microplastics of various sizes and shapes are bioavailable to marine organisms regardless of their physical characteristics.
This study focuses on the presence of MPs in the sediment beds around coral reefs of MPNPs in Baja California Sur, México. Based on seasonal sampling results, comparison of MPs from Cabo Pulmo (avg. 680.25 items/100 g d.w) recorded higher values than Espiritu Santo Island (avg. 321.75 items/100 g d.w) from backshore/foreshore regions. Fibrous MPs are the dominant morphotypes followed by fragments and spheres. SEM/EDS analysis revealed that the MPs are altered texturally in surface and is bioavailable to marine organisms independent of size/shape. FTIR analysis indicate different polymers (in %) in the form of PP (70), PET (65), HDPE (59), LDPE (50), PS (30), PC (18), PU (10) and RYN (10). Most of the MPs are secondary in origin resulting from man-made and tourist's activities controlled by wave transportation and tidal currents. Existence of MPs in sediment beds around the coral reefs signals the ways for future investigations.
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