We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Abundant plankton-sized microplastic particles in shelf waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found abundant microplastic particles of plankton-like size in the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico shelf, raising concerns about their potential to be ingested by zooplankton and higher trophic level species. The study highlights how semi-enclosed coastal seas can accumulate high concentrations of small plastic fragments.
Accumulation of marine debris is a global problem that affects the oceans on multiple scales. The majority of floating marine debris is composed of microplastics: plastic particles up to 5 mm in diameter. With similar sizes and appearances to natural food items, these small fragments pose potential risks to many marine organisms including zooplankton and zooplanktivores. Semi-enclosed seas are reported to have high concentrations of microplastics, however, the distribution and concentration of microplastics in one such system, the Gulf of Mexico, remains unknown. Our study documented and characterized microplastics in continental shelf waters off the Louisiana coast in the northern Gulf of Mexico, using bongo nets, neuston nets, and Niskin bottles. Additionally, we compared the size distributions of microplastics and zooplankton collected using the nets. Plastics were manually sorted from the samples, documented, and measured using digital microscopy. Confirmation of putative plastics was carried out by hydrofluoric acid digestion and a subsample was analyzed using FTIR microscopy. Estimated concentrations of microplastics collected on the inner continental shelf during this study are among the highest reported globally. Total microplastic concentrations ranged from 4.8 to 8.2 particles m and 5.0-18.4 particles m for the bongo and neuston samples, respectively. Niskin bottles collected smaller plastic particles than the nets and indicated total microplastic concentrations (primarily fibers) from 6.0E4 - 15.7E4 particles m. Microplastic concentrations were greater than the abundances of all but four of the five most abundant taxa from bongo nets and were not statistically different from the abundances of any of the most numerous taxa from neuston nets. Sizes of microplastics and zooplankton partially or completely overlapped, suggesting the potential for confusion with natural prey.
More Papers Like This
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in beach sediments: Insights into microplastic accumulation in northern Gulf of Mexico estuaries
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in beach sediments across seven locations in Mobile Bay, a northern Gulf of Mexico estuary. The study found microplastics were ubiquitous at concentrations 66 to 253 times higher than reported for the open ocean, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymers, highlighting the extent of microplastic accumulation in estuarine environments.
Occurrence and amount of microplastic ingested by fishes in watersheds of the Gulf of Mexico
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified microplastic ingestion by fishes across several freshwater and estuarine watersheds of the Gulf of Mexico. The study documented widespread microplastic occurrence in fish from these environments, contributing important data about freshwater contamination at a time when most research had focused on marine ecosystems.
The current state of microplastic pollution in the world's largest gulf and its future directions
AI summary Read the abstract
This review critically assesses microplastic pollution research in the Gulf of Mexico, the world's largest gulf, covering 14 studies across water, sediment, and biota. Researchers found microplastic concentrations ranging widely across environmental compartments, with fragments being the most common shape and polyethylene the most prevalent polymer, and noted that 46 out of 100 fish species in the region are susceptible to microplastic ingestion.
Microplastics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: A Literature Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesized available literature on microplastics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, finding that water column concentrations appear below global averages while shoreline sediment concentrations are slightly above average. The authors note that fewer biological specimens in the region appear to contain microplastics but stress that data gaps remain significant and continued monitoring is needed.
Coastal gradients of small microplastics and associated pollutants influenced by estuarine sources
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled small microplastics in the Gulf of Cadiz at 5 m depth and found higher densities (130 mg/m3) than most other regions worldwide, with concentrations decreasing from the coastline outward and predominantly composed of polymer fragments between 45 and 193 μm.
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.