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Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys
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Researchers unexpectedly discovered high concentrations of polystyrene microplastic particles — reaching up to 76,000 particles per liter — in two coastal lagoons of the Florida Keys during routine microplankton surveys, with particle sizes overlapping those of microplanktonic algae and raising concerns about ecological misidentification and food web impacts.
A microscopic study of microplankton in two coastal lagoons in the Florida Keys coincidently, and unexpectedly, revealed the widespread presence of high concentrations of polystyrene microplastic particles. The polystyrene particles were first observed in the second year of a 2-year study of phytoplankton communities, with peak densities in the spring/summer of 2019 at all ten sampling sites in the two lagoons. Polystyrene particle densities reached levels up to 76,000 L-1. The particles ranged in size from 33 to 190 µm, similar to the size range of microplanktonic algae (20-200 µm). Over the period of peak polystyrene densities, average particle densities were similar to average densities of microplanktonic algae cells. The latter observation highlights the potential significance of the microplastic particles for the ecology of the pristine waters of the Florida Keys, if they persist.
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Extensive Microplastic Contamination in Southeastern Florida Forage Fishes
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Forage fish from four coastal sites in southeastern Florida contained high levels of microplastics, with contamination levels comparable to or exceeding those in larger predatory species, highlighting the importance of lower trophic levels as vectors for plastic in marine food webs.
The microscopic threat with a macroscopic impact: Microplastics along the southeast Florida reef tract
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Researchers sampled surface and bottom waters along the Southeast Florida Reef Tract over six months, finding 1,204 microplastic items across seven polymer types, with significantly more plastic at the surface than the seafloor. Five additional chemical contaminants were detected on the plastics, confirming that microplastics act as vectors for hazardous substances near fragile coral reef ecosystems. The study calls for both improved plastic waste management and active clean-up to protect these reefs.
Polystyrene microplastics: environmental presence, pathways, and biological impact
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Researchers reviewed the environmental presence, transport pathways, and biological impacts of polystyrene microplastics, documenting how widespread food packaging use leads to pervasive contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and raises concerns for organismal and human health.
Seasonal and spatial variations in microplastics abundances in St. Andrew Bay, Florida
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Researchers found significant seasonal and spatial variations in microplastic abundances in coastal sediments of St. Andrew Bay, Florida, with wastewater treatment plant effluent identified as a major contributor to the approximately 25% of marine microplastics originating from such facilities.
Polystyrene microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations exacerbate diatom blooms caused by phosphorus pollution: Rethinking coastal eutrophication
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations exacerbate diatom blooms caused by phosphorus pollution in coastal waters, suggesting that microplastics and eutrophication act synergistically to worsen algal bloom events. The findings challenge the assumption that coastal eutrophication is driven solely by nutrient enrichment and highlight microplastics as a cofactor in bloom dynamics.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.