0
Article Tier 2 Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Microplastic in Cymodocea rotundata Seagrass Blades

International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology 2019 40 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

Microplastics were found adhering to the surfaces of seagrass blades in Indonesian coastal waters, trapped by the rough texture of organisms growing on the leaves. Seagrass beds, which are important marine habitats, may act as a sink that accumulates microplastics from the surrounding water.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastic known to contaminate all ecosystem in the ocean , including seagrass bed. Leaf is one of the important parts of seagrass. The presence of ephibiont that attached to the surface of the seagrass leaves, causes the leaves’ surface texture becoming rough, enabling microplastic entrapped in it. To assess the extent of microplastic accumulation, seagrass samples were collected from Barrang Caddi Island. Of the 15 seagrass blades harvestedin Barrang Caddi Island, there are 23 total items of microplastic observed, comprises91% of microfibers and 9% were microfragments.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance and its relationship with sediment grain size in seagrass and bare flats of Panjang Island, Banten Bay, Indonesia

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers surveying Panjang Island in Indonesia's Banten Bay found microplastics throughout both seagrass and bare sediment areas, with finer-grained sediments accumulating more particles. Seagrass beds appeared to trap more microplastics than bare areas, meaning these critical coastal habitats — already under stress — may concentrate plastic pollution and expose the organisms sheltering in them to higher doses.

Article Tier 2

An Assessment of Microplastics (MPs) Sedimentary Accumulation in Seagrass Meadows of Mare Island Conservation Area, North Maluku, Indonesia

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic accumulation in seagrass meadow sediments at Mare Island Conservation Area, North Maluku, Indonesia, finding microplastic abundances of 13,839-37,000 particles per kilogram dry weight sediment, with fibres as the dominant morphology across both sampling stations.

Article Tier 2

Seagrass beds acting as a trap of microplastics - Emerging hotspot in the coastal region?

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

Article Tier 2

Early evidence of microplastics on seagrass and macroalgae

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper