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Papers
17 resultsShowing papers from Kōchi University
ClearSediment grain size determines microplastic exposure landscapes for sandy beach macroinfauna
Researchers studied microplastic distribution across sandy beach zones to understand exposure landscapes for intertidal organisms. They found that sediment grain size, rather than beach zonation, was the primary factor determining microplastic abundance, providing important guidance for designing sampling surveys and assessing ecological risk from microplastic pollution on beaches.
Harnessing green tide Ulva biomass for carbon dioxide sequestration
Researchers reviewed the potential of using Ulva seaweed from harmful green tide blooms as a resource for carbon dioxide sequestration through biochar production. They estimated that Ulva biomass could capture approximately 3.85 million tons of CO2 equivalent, with nearly half stabilized through conversion to biochar. While not directly about microplastics, the study explores how repurposing marine biomass could address both coastal pollution and climate change.
Microplastic identification and quantification from organic rich sediments: A validated laboratory protocol
Researchers developed and validated a laboratory protocol for extracting, quantifying, and identifying microplastics from organic-rich sediments with fine grain sizes. The study addressed the challenge of analyzing microplastics in contamination hotspots like harbors and estuaries, where high organic content makes extraction difficult, and provided a cost-effective integrated method for more reliable environmental monitoring.
Combined effect of microplastics and tire particles on Daphnia magna: Insights from physiological and transcriptomic responses
Researchers investigated the combined effects of microplastics and tire particles on the water flea Daphnia magna, finding that the mixture triggered significant oxidative stress at environmentally relevant concentrations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of antioxidant and metabolic stress genes, while energy reserves like glycogen were affected. The study suggests that co-exposure to these common freshwater pollutants may pose greater ecological risks than either particle type alone.
Distribution of microplastics in bathyal- to hadal-depth sediments and transport process along the deep-sea canyon and the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution from shallow to ultra-deep ocean sediments in the Northwest Pacific, including Sagami Bay and areas beneath the Kuroshio Extension current. The study found the highest microplastic concentrations in abyssal stations and suggests two distinct transport pathways: land-sourced microplastics move to hadal depths via turbidity currents along submarine canyons, while ocean-surface microplastics sink directly to the abyssal plains below.
Microplastic distribution among estuarine sedimentary habitats utilized by intertidal crabs
This study mapped microplastic distribution across multiple sedimentary habitat types in an estuary to support spatially refined risk assessments for intertidal fauna. Results showed microplastic abundance varied significantly by habitat, with implications for species that rely on specific substrates.
Selective transport of microplastics and mesoplastics by drifting in coastal waters
A combination of field surveys and particle-tracking models in Japan's Seto Inland Sea revealed that tidal currents selectively transport larger mesoplastics toward coastal areas while smaller microplastics remain more widely distributed. The study demonstrates how hydrodynamics shape the size-dependent distribution of plastic debris in coastal waters.
Potential sources of microplastic contamination in laboratory analysis and a protocol for minimising contamination
Scientists identified multiple sources of microplastic contamination that can be accidentally introduced during laboratory analysis of biological samples, including from lab water, chemicals, and air. By filtering reagents, pre-treating glass fiber filters, and using a clean working environment, they reduced lab-introduced contamination by 70–100%. These findings are important for accurate microplastic research: without such precautions, studies can significantly overestimate how much plastic is actually present in animal tissues or environmental samples.
High surface microplastic abundance at 30°S, 90°W supports eastward extension of the South Pacific garbage patch
A latitudinal ocean survey found extremely high concentrations of microplastics and mesoplastics at 30°S, 90°W in the eastern South Pacific — one to two orders of magnitude higher than at other sampled latitudes — providing direct field evidence that the South Pacific Garbage Patch extends much further east than previously mapped. Particle-tracking models corroborated the finding. This matters because the South Pacific is vast and largely unmonitored, and better mapping of accumulation zones is essential for understanding plastic pollution hotspots and their impacts on marine life.
Acinetobacter bacteria could be potent degraders of fragmented polyethylene and polypropylene among the digestive tract bacteria of Galleria waxworms
Scientists found bacteria called Acinetobacter in wax worms' guts that can break down tiny pieces of common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene (found in shopping bags and food containers). These same bacteria also live naturally in some marine animals, suggesting they might help break down microplastics that contaminate our food chain. This discovery could lead to new ways to reduce plastic pollution that affects human health through contaminated seafood and drinking water.
Ingestion and translocation of microplastics in tissues of deposit-feeding crabs (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea) in Kochi estuary, Japan
More than half of 116 intertidal crabs collected from a Japanese estuary contained microplastics, with PET fragments dominating and particles concentrated primarily in the gut. Smaller deposit-feeding crab species carried a higher microplastic burden relative to body weight than larger omnivorous species, showing that feeding behavior and body size both shape how much plastic wildlife accumulates in contaminated estuaries.
<i>Alcanivorax</i> bacteria as important polypropylene degraders in mesopelagic environments
This study is the first clear demonstration that polypropylene (PP) plastic can be biodegraded by bacteria — specifically Alcanivorax species found in deep-sea (mesopelagic) ocean environments. Importantly, the researchers show that PP cannot serve as a sole carbon source for these bacteria, meaning biodegradation requires the presence of other nutrients. This knowledge is foundational for developing realistic PP bioremediation strategies, since PP is one of the most produced and environmentally persistent plastics.
Nanoparticle-Biological Interactions in a Marine Benthic Foraminifer
Researchers exposed single-celled marine organisms called foraminifera to three types of engineered nanoparticles — including polystyrene nanoplastics — and found that all three accumulated inside the cells and triggered oxidative stress (a form of cellular damage). This study shows that even microscopic seafloor organisms are vulnerable to nanoplastic pollution, expanding the known range of species harmed by plastic contamination.
Identification of black microplastics using long-wavelength infrared hyperspectral imaging with imaging-type two-dimensional Fourier spectroscopy
Japanese scientists used a long-wavelength infrared hyperspectral camera to identify black microplastics, which are difficult to detect with conventional infrared methods. This new approach could significantly improve microplastic detection in the many dark-colored plastic items that fragment in the environment.
Data: Microplastic distribution among estuarine sedimentary habitats utilized by intertidal crabs (Vermeiren et al. 2022)
This is a dataset from a study on how microplastics are distributed across different sedimentary habitats used by intertidal crabs in estuaries — not a standalone research article.
Infrared Emission Spectroscopic Imaging of Microplastics Using Long-Wavelength Infrared Hyperspectral Camera with Imaging-Type Two-Dimensional Fourier Spectroscopy
Researchers tested a long-wavelength infrared hyperspectral camera system for imaging and identifying microplastics, finding it could distinguish different polymer types based on their thermal emission spectra. The approach offers a potentially faster and more cost-effective alternative to conventional Fourier-transform infrared microscopy for high-throughput microplastic screening.
Tsunami-triggered dispersal and deposition of microplastics in marine environments and their use in dating recent turbidite deposits
This study found that a tsunami may have triggered an abrupt deposition event that spread microplastics across continental shelf and deep-sea sediments near Japan, showing that extreme ocean events can redistribute plastic pollution and that microplastic layers can serve as chronological markers in marine sediments.