We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Is the weight of plastic litter correlated with vegetal wrack? A case study from a Central Italian beach
Summary
Researchers found that vegetal wrack on a central Italian beach acts as a trap for plastic litter, with large microplastics (2.5-5 mm) being the most abundant size category, suggesting plant material entrapment plays a role in coastal plastic accumulation.
This study analyzes the occurrence and distribution of plastic litter and the entrapment of plastic by wrack beached on a natural reserve. Large microplastics (2.5 - 5 mm) were the most abundant plastic size category detected. The main color and shape were white and fragment, respectively. The plastics entrapped by egagropiles were mainly transparent fibers. We analyzed the correlation between the weights of plastic litter and vegetal wrack in two transects, selected for their different environmental characteristics. The transect closer to a breakwater showed a significant positive correlation between the weights of plastics and wrack, while the other transect suggested a casual pattern of plastic deposition on the beach. Further research is suggested to focus on the role of breakwaters in altering marine currents and enhancing plastic beaching.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The effects of microplastics size and type on entrapment by freshwater macrophytes under vertical and lateral deposition
Researchers investigated how microplastic particle size and polymer type affect entrapment by freshwater macrophytes, finding that certain aquatic plant species preferentially intercepted specific particle sizes and that plant morphology determined capture efficiency across MPs of varying dimensions.
Species-specific plastic accumulation in the sediment and canopy of coastal vegetated habitats
A multi-habitat study of coastal vegetated areas in Portugal found that saltmarsh vegetation showed the strongest ability to trap macroplastics in sediment, while microplastics were distributed similarly across all habitat types. Subtidal habitats retained more microplastic fibers on their canopy than intertidal habitats, highlighting how plant structure and submersion depth influence plastic accumulation.
Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient
Researchers examined how seagrass beds trap microplastics and other anthropogenic particles by sampling along a vegetation cover gradient from dense beds to less vegetated patches. The study found that seagrass vegetation enhances the accumulation of plastic debris in both sediment and among plant structures. Evidence indicates that seagrass ecosystems act as significant sinks for microplastic pollution, with implications for the organisms that depend on these habitats.
Microplastic shape influences fate in vegetated wetlands
Researchers investigated how vegetation structure and microplastic type influence microplastic trapping efficiency in a simulated coastal wetland using a flume experiment with branched and grassy vegetation types and a range of microplastic shapes, sizes, and polymers. They found that microplastic shape — rather than polymer type or vegetation presence — was the dominant factor determining whether particles were retained in sediment or adhered to the vegetation canopy.
Posidonia oceanica wrack intercepts plastic debris: First evaluated evidence on Maltese beaches
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.