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Saley AM, Smart AC, Bezerra MF, Burnham TLU, Capece LR, Lima LFO, Carsh AC, Williams SL, Morgan SG. Microplastic accumulation and biomagnification in a coastal marine reserve situated in a sparsely populated area. Mar Pollut Bull 2019; 146:54-59. [PMID: 31426191 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxic chemicals within and adsorbed to microplastics (0.05-5 mm) have the potential to biomagnify in food webs. However, microplastic concentrations in highly productive, coastal habitats are not well understood. Therefore, we quantified the presence of microplastics in a benthic community and surrounding environment of a remote marine reserve on the open coast of California, USA. Concentrations of microplastic particles in seawater were 36.59 plastics/L and in sediments were 0.227 ± 0.135 plastics/g. Densities of microplastics on the surfaces of two morphologically distinct species of macroalgae were 2.34 ± 2.19 plastics/g (Pelvetiopsis limitata) and 8.65 ± 6.44 plastics/g (Endocladia muricata). Densities were highest in the herbivorous snail, Tegula funebralis, at 9.91 ± 6.31 plastics/g, potentially due to bioaccumulation. This study highlights the need for further investigations of the prevalence and potential harm of microplastics in benthic communities at remote locations as well as human population centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Saley
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America; Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, United States of America.
| | - A C Smart
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America; Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - M F Bezerra
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States of America; Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America
| | - T L U Burnham
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States of America; Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - L R Capece
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - L F O Lima
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States of America
| | - A C Carsh
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States of America; Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America
| | - S L Williams
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America; Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - S G Morgan
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, United States of America; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California at Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
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