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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Seagrass beds reveal high abundance of microplastic in sediments: A case study in the Baltic Sea
ClearSeagrass beds acting as a trap of microplastics - Emerging hotspot in the coastal region?
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.
Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient
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.
Microplastics in the seagrass ecosystems: A critical review
This review critically assessed microplastic contamination in seagrass ecosystems worldwide, finding that these nearshore habitats accumulate significant plastic pollution due to their proximity to human activities and the trapping effect of submerged vegetation.
The role of seagrass meadows in the accumulation of microplastics: Insights from a South African estuary
Researchers investigated whether seagrass meadows accumulate microplastics in a South African estuary, finding no significant difference in microplastic abundance between seagrass sediments and adjacent bare sediments at the small spatial scale studied.
A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps
This systematic review of 84 studies finds that seagrass meadows act as natural traps for microplastics, accumulating higher concentrations in their sediments than surrounding areas. While this filtering role may protect open waters, it also means these important coastal ecosystems are bearing a disproportionate burden of plastic pollution.
Canopy Accumulation: Are Seagrass Meadows a Sink of Microplastics?
This meta-analysis investigates whether seagrass meadows accumulate more microplastics than surrounding bare sediments. The findings show that while microplastics are nearly everywhere in coastal sediments, seagrass beds do not concentrate them at higher levels than other areas. However, the widespread contamination is still concerning because many fish species depend on seagrass habitats, creating a pathway for plastics to enter the food chain.
Seagrass under siege: Investigating microplastic effects on seagrass ecosystems
Researchers reviewed the effects of microplastics on seagrass meadows, which are ecologically critical habitats that also trap and accumulate particulate matter. Evidence suggests microplastics can impair seagrass growth, root function, and associated fauna in these vulnerable ecosystems.
The power of Posidonia oceanica meadows to retain microplastics and the consequences on associated macrofaunal benthic communities
Researchers investigated how Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows accumulate microplastics in coastal sediments and the consequences for associated marine communities. The study found differences in microplastic abundance and composition at various depths and between vegetated and unvegetated sites, suggesting that seagrass beds may act as sinks for microplastic pollution with potential impacts on benthic organisms.
A critical synthesis of seagrass meadows as microplastic sinks: Current trends and research gaps
This systematic review of 84 studies finds that seagrass meadows act as natural traps for microplastics, accumulating higher concentrations in their sediments than surrounding areas. While this filtering role may protect open waters, it raises concerns about the long-term health of these vital coastal ecosystems.
Microplastic abundance and its relationship with sediment grain size in seagrass and bare flats of Panjang Island, Banten Bay, Indonesia
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.
Depth profiles of microplastic in sediment cores in seagrass and adjacent areas
Researchers examined the vertical distribution of microplastics in sediment cores (0-20 cm depth) from seagrass beds and adjacent bare sediment areas at Kalase Bay in Thailand. The study found microplastics distributed throughout the depth profiles, with seagrass beds potentially acting as microplastic sinks due to their sediment-trapping properties.
Accumulation of microplastics in relation to the sediment grain size distribution in seagrass meadows in the coastal areas of Tuticorin, southeast coast of India
Researchers investigated the relationship between microplastic accumulation and sediment texture in seagrass meadows along the southeast coast of India. They found that seagrass sediments contained significantly higher microplastic concentrations than unvegetated areas, with polyethylene being the most common polymer detected. The findings suggest that seagrass meadows act as traps for microplastic pollutants, with sediment grain size influencing accumulation patterns.
A review of microplastic impacts on seagrasses, epiphytes, and associated sediment communities
This review synthesizes research on microplastic accumulation in seagrass ecosystems, examining effects on seagrass plants, epiphytic communities, and associated sediment biota. The authors identify seagrass meadows as both sinks for microplastics and potentially sensitive ecosystems where plastic contamination may disrupt complex ecological relationships.
Retention of microplastics in Halophila decipiens seagrass meadows
Researchers studied microplastic retention in Halophila decipiens seagrass meadows at two localities in the Baja California Peninsula. The study found that seagrass beds and their associated sediments act as potential long-term reservoirs for microplastic particles, trapping and storing them within the marine ecosystem.
Factors influencing microplastic abundances in the sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll
Researchers investigated factors controlling microplastic abundance in sediments of a seagrass-dominated tropical atoll. They found that seagrass density, water flow patterns, and proximity to human settlements all influenced microplastic accumulation, with denser seagrass meadows trapping more particles in their sediments. The study raises concerns that microplastic buildup in seagrass ecosystems could threaten the ecological services these habitats provide, including carbon storage and biodiversity support.
The interaction between seagrass meadow density and microplastic retention in four cool-temperate estuaries
Researchers examined whether seagrass meadows trap microplastics in their sediments across four South African estuaries. They found that in three of the four estuaries, dense seagrass beds contained more microplastics than bare sediment, with fibers and fragments being the most common types caught. The study confirms that seagrasses can act as natural filters for microplastic pollution, though the potential effects of trapped plastics on seagrass health remain unknown.
Marine macrophytes retain microplastics
Water sampled within thickets of Baltic Sea macrophytes contained on average 1.7 times more microplastic particles than water sampled outside, with fibers dominating, suggesting that aquatic vegetation physically traps floating microplastics and functions as an important retention zone that concentrates pollution within coastal habitats.
Seagrasses provide a novel ecosystem service by trapping marine plastics
Researchers found up to 1,470 plastic items per kg in beached seagrass remains and aegagropilae (seagrass fiber balls), showing that seagrass meadows trap plastic debris — primarily negatively buoyant polymer filaments — and transport them back to shore via natural aggregation.
Early evidence of microplastics on seagrass and macroalgae
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.
Microplastic abundance and accumulation patterns in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) meadows throughout coastal Massachusetts, USA
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in eelgrass meadows across coastal Massachusetts, finding microplastics present at all sites regardless of proximity to human development. The study suggests that microplastic accumulation patterns in seagrass ecosystems are related to epiphytic cover on leaves, plant morphology, and sediment bulk density, providing the first baseline concentrations for the temperate western North Atlantic.
Anthropogenic microparticles accumulation in small-bodied seagrass meadows: The case of tropical estuarine species in Brazil
Researchers assessed the accumulation of anthropogenic microparticles in small-bodied seagrass meadows in a tropical estuary in Brazil. The study found microparticles in 80% of samples, predominantly fibers, suggesting that seagrass meadows may act as traps for microplastic pollution in coastal environments, with implications for the organisms that depend on these habitats.
New Insights into the Microplastic Enrichment in the Blue Carbon Ecosystem: Evidence from Seagrass Meadows and Mangrove Forests in Coastal South China Sea
Researchers studied how seagrass meadows and mangrove forests in the South China Sea trap microplastics, finding enrichment of 1.3 to 17.6 times compared to unvegetated sites, with a strong positive correlation between microplastic abundance and organic carbon content (Pearson R = 0.86).
An Assessment of Microplastics (MPs) Sedimentary Accumulation in Seagrass Meadows of Mare Island Conservation Area, North Maluku, Indonesia
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.
Microplastic abundance and its relationship with sediment grain size in seagrass and bare flats of Panjang Island, Banten Bay, Indonesia
Seagrass beds are thought to trap microplastics more efficiently than bare seafloor, but a study in Indonesia's Banten Bay found no statistically significant difference in microplastic abundance between seagrass and unvegetated sediments, with counts ranging from 240 to 1,880 particles per kilogram of dry sediment. Sediment grain size did influence microplastic accumulation, with finer sediments retaining more particles. These findings suggest that local hydrodynamic conditions and sediment texture may matter more than vegetation type when predicting where microplastics concentrate in coastal ecosystems.