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Presence of Microplastics in Invertebrate Communities in Marinas in Coastal Ecosystems
Summary
This study quantified microplastic concentrations in Chesapeake Bay and Florida Keys marina waters and assessed microplastic accumulation in filter-feeding benthic invertebrates to evaluate whether marina communities act as plastic pollution sinks. Understanding the role of bivalves and other filter feeders in retaining microplastics is critical for assessing both ecological exposure pathways and the potential for these organisms to serve as bioindicators or biofilters.
Coastal ecosystems are impacted by microplastic pollution from major industrial and urbanized cities. These ecosystems support a wide variety of invertebrates, fishes, birds, and even large mammals. Filter feeding marine invertebrates are uniquely threatened by microplastic pollution because the size range of microplastics overlaps with that of their natural food sources, increasing both the bioavailability of microplastics and the potential for bioaccumulation. My project aims to i) quantify microplastic concentrations in the waters of the lower Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Keys, and ii) assess microplastic presence in benthic invertebrates, with a focus on habitats within marinas. While the contribution to water clean-up is well documented for bivalves, for example within oyster reefs, less information is available for other filter-feeding organisms. The results from this study will provide us with a greater understanding of whether marinas and their associated invertebrate communities act as sinks to plastic pollution. Knowing how much plastic is retained by these communities, relative to the environmental concentration, is highly relevant to understand their role in mitigating microplastic pollution in the environment.