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New Insights into the Microplastic Enrichment in the Blue Carbon Ecosystem: Evidence from Seagrass Meadows and Mangrove Forests in Coastal South China Sea
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Researchers studied how seagrass meadows and mangrove forests in the South China Sea trap microplastics, finding enrichment of 1.3 to 17.6 times compared to unvegetated sites, with a strong positive correlation between microplastic abundance and organic carbon content (Pearson R = 0.86).
Microplastics were recently found to aggregate in the blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), which are known for their ability to store carbon by slowing down the water flow. However, evidence is largely lacking on how the accumulation of microplastics is related to carbon sequestration in BCEs and if this trap effect is driven by its biological characteristics. In this study, the trap effect of microplastics by BCEs was evaluated for various seagrasses (Zostera japonica, Halophila ovalis, and Halophila beccarii) and mangroves (Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina). Significant accumulation was found in the seagrass meadow dominated by H. beccarii and the mangrove forest dominated by A. marina, with microplastics enriched by 1.3 to 17.6 times compared to their corresponding unvegetated sites. The abundance of microplastics varied greatly from 17.68 ± 8.10 to 611.75 ± 81.52 particles per kg of dry sediment, with the highest abundance in A. marina mangrove sediments. A strong positive correlation was found between the abundance of microplastics and the particulate organic carbon content at all study sites (Pearson, R = 0.86, p < 0.01). Higher diversity of microplastic colors and size was found in the H. beccarii meadow, and higher diversity of shapes was found in the A. marina forest. Our results added new insights to the understanding of the mechanism of microplastic trapping by BCEs and coupled the behavior of microplastics with the organic carbon in the sediment.
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Microplastic abundance in blue carbon ecosystems showed the highest concentrations in Asia, especially South and Southeast Asia, with distribution influenced by vegetation habitat, climate, and river runoff. Large fish showed significant microplastic accumulation, and the effect of microplastics on sediment organic carbon varied by ecosystem type, challenging the assumption that microplastics increase carbon sequestration.
Microplastics distribution in different habitats of Ximen Island and the trapping effect of blue carbon habitats on microplastics
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Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution across five coastal ecosystems on Ximen Island and found that blue carbon habitats such as mangroves and saltmarshes act as significant traps for microplastics, concentrating them in sediments over time.
Enhanced Microplastic Burial in China’s Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Drivers and Potential Roles in Climate Change Mitigation
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Researchers measured microplastic stocks in coastal blue carbon ecosystems along the Chinese coastline and found that these environments significantly enhance the trapping and burial of microplastic particles in sediments. Microplastic-derived carbon storage ranged from 0.01 to 104.4 kg of carbon per hectare across the study sites. The study suggests that while blue carbon ecosystems act as sinks for microplastic pollution, this buried plastic carbon may need to be accounted for in coastal carbon budget assessments.
Tidal variation shaped microplastic enrichment patterns in mangrove blue carbon ecosystem of northern Beibu Gulf, China
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Researchers found that tidal variation significantly shapes microplastic distribution in mangrove sediments of the Beibu Gulf, with higher microplastic abundance in high-tide zones, suggesting mangroves act as effective sinks for microplastic pollution.
Blue carbon sediments as effective sinks for microplastics: A global meta-analysis
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This global meta-analysis of 54 studies found that blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass meadows) accumulate significantly more microplastics in their sediments than unvegetated tidal flats, with mangroves showing the strongest effect. Microplastic burial rates in these ecosystems have increased exponentially by 2.7% per year since the 1950s, roughly double the rate in bare sediments.
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