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Marine macrophytes retain microplastics
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Researchers found that marine macrophytes such as seagrass and algae retain microplastics within their structures and accumulate them in surrounding sediments, acting as an underrecognized biological sink for plastic particles. This study highlights coastal vegetation as both a trapping mechanism and an indicator of local microplastic contamination.
Plastic contamination of marine beaches, sediments, water is widely reported. It is known that lot of plastic debris appears on marine shores after storms together with natural marine litter, like ragged vegetation, pieces of wood, etc. The goal of our field campaign in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea was to check whether growing macrophytes also concentrate and retain plastics, particularly that of microplastic (MP, 0.2-5 mm here) size range. Three summer expeditions were conducted (July 30, August 5 and 7, 2019) in sea coastal zone (depth down to 10 m), where communities of attached macroalgae (Furcellaria lumbricalis, Coccotylus truncatus, Polysiphonia fucoides, Cladophora rupestris) are developed on underwater boulders off the Cape Taran. Samples were collected at 8 stations, covering areas with filamentous algae (at depths of 3.2 and 4 m) and with perennial algae furcellaria (depths of 5.6 and 8.2 m). Along with sampling of growing algae (from area 25x25 cm2 in triplicate), a hand pump was used to sample 20-100 liters of sea water from both algae thicket and algae-free water in surrounding area.The samples were processed and examined in laboratory. Microplastic particles were found in all the collected samples. Preliminary analysis shows 1.3-5.3 times higher microplastic contamination in water samples taken from algae thicket than in samples taken in free water nearby. The majority of microparticles are fibers, mainly colorless and blue, but also red, black, golden, and yellow.Investigations are supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant No. 19-17-00041.
More Papers Like This
Marine macrophytes retain microplastics
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Water sampled within thickets of Baltic Sea macrophytes contained on average 1.7 times more microplastic particles than water sampled outside, with fibers dominating, suggesting that aquatic vegetation physically traps floating microplastics and functions as an important retention zone that concentrates pollution within coastal habitats.
Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient
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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.
Early evidence of microplastics on seagrass and macroalgae
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Researchers quantified microplastic densities on the surfaces of three marine macrophyte species (two macroalgae and one seagrass) collected in situ, finding measurable contamination on all species. The results suggest that macrophytes may serve as an important but underappreciated pathway for microplastics to enter marine food webs.
Seagrass beds acting as a trap of microplastics - Emerging hotspot in the coastal region?
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Seagrass beds in coastal waters were found to trap and accumulate microplastics at higher concentrations than surrounding unvegetated sediments, acting as effective sinks for plastic particles due to their dense canopy structure. This positions seagrass meadows as emerging hotspots of microplastic contamination in coastal ecosystems.
Macrophytes: A Temporary Sink for Microplastics in Transitional Water Systems
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Researchers found microplastics in 94% of macrophyte samples from two northern Adriatic lagoons, with contamination levels ranging from 0.16 to 330 items/g fresh weight showing a site-specific rather than species-specific pattern, and exopolysaccharides on macrophyte surfaces acting as glue to trap plastic particles.
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