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Relationships between plastic litter and chemical pollutants on benthic biodiversity

Environmental Pollution 2018 44 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Gianfranco Scotti, Michela D’Alessandro, Daniela Berto, Gianfranco Scotti, Michela D’Alessandro, Daniela Berto, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Valentina Esposito, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Michela D’Alessandro, Teresa Romeo Michela D’Alessandro, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Franco Andaloro, Valentina Esposito, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Valentina Esposito, Michela D’Alessandro, Michela D’Alessandro, Michela D’Alessandro, Michela D’Alessandro, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Erika M. D. Porporato, Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Daniela Berto, Daniela Berto, Gianfranco Scotti, Pierpaolo Consoli, Franco Andaloro, Daniela Berto, Daniela Berto, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Franco Andaloro, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Daniela Berto, Daniela Berto, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Daniela Berto, Franco Andaloro, Monia Renzi, Valentina Esposito, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Salvatore Giacobbe, Daniela Berto, Teresa Romeo Franco Andaloro, Pierpaolo Consoli, Pierpaolo Consoli, Monia Renzi, Michela D’Alessandro, Daniela Berto, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Michela D’Alessandro, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Daniela Berto, Pierpaolo Consoli, Gianfranco Scotti, Daniela Berto, Michela D’Alessandro, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Michela D’Alessandro, Gianfranco Scotti, Pierpaolo Consoli, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Pierpaolo Consoli, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Gianfranco Scotti, Monia Renzi, Gianfranco Scotti, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Daniela Berto, Valentina Esposito, Franco Andaloro, Gaetano Valastro, Daniela Berto, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Gaetano Valastro, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Franco Andaloro, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Monia Renzi, Monia Renzi, Teresa Romeo Gianfranco Scotti, Franco Andaloro, Gianfranco Scotti, Salvatore Giacobbe, Daniela Berto, Daniela Berto, Franco Andaloro, Franco Andaloro, Teresa Romeo Teresa Romeo Pierpaolo Consoli, Pierpaolo Consoli, Teresa Romeo

Summary

A coastal area in Sicily was assessed for marine litter, chemical pollutants, and non-native species simultaneously, finding that plastic debris was associated with reduced benthic biodiversity. The combined presence of plastics and chemical pollutants on the seafloor poses multiple simultaneous threats to marine ecosystems.

Five Descriptors (D) of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD): marine litter (D10), non-indigenous species (D2) and organic and inorganic pollutants (D8), were estimated in a coastal area of GSA 16 (Augusta harbour, Central Mediterranean Sea) in order to study their effects on the biodiversity (D1) of the benthic community D6) and to improve data for the MSFD. Investigation of plastic debris had led to the identification of 38 fragments divided into four categories, among which microplastics resulted as the most abundant. Six non-indigenous species, belonging to Polychaeta (Kirkegaardia dorsobranchialis, Notomastus aberans, Pista unibranchia, Pseudonereis anomala, Branchiomma bairdi) and Mollusca (Brachidontes pharaonis) were found. Biodiversity and benthic indices suggested a generalised, slightly disturbed ecological status. Anthracene, Zinc and Chrome were the most abundant chemical compounds in analysed sediments. Significant correlations were found between the abundance of trace elements vs biotic indices and between plastic debris vs biodiversity and benthic indices. This study represents the first report about the abundance of plastic debris and its relationship to contaminants and infauna in Augusta harbour. Our results can provide useful information for national and international laws and directives.

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