Seasonal variation in microplastics and zooplankton abundances and characteristics: The ecological vulnerability of an oceanic island system

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: The ingestion of microplastics (MPs - plastic particles <5 mm) by planktivorous organisms represents a significant threat to marine food webs. To investigate how seasonality might affect plastic intake in oceanic islands' ecosystems, relative abundances and composition of MPs and mesozooplankton samples collected off Madeira Island (NE Atlantic) between February 2019 and January 2020 were analysed. MPs were found in all samples, with fibres accounting for 89 % of the particles. MPs and zooplankton mean abundance was 0.262 items/m3 and 18.137 individuals/m3, respectively. Their monthly variations follow the seasonal fluctuation of environmental parameters, such as currents, chlorophyll-a concentration, sea surface temperature and precipitation intensity. A higher MPs/zooplankton ratio was recorded in the warm season (May-Oct), reaching 0.068 items/individual when considering large-sized particles (1000–5000 μm). This is the first study to assess the seasonal variability of MPs in an oceanic island system providing essential information respecting its ecological impact in pelagic environments.

Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113906

Authors: Annalisa Sambolino, Inma Herrera, Soledad Álvarez, Alexandra Rosa, Filipe Alves, João Canning-Clode, Nereida Cordeiro, Ana Dinis, Manfred Kaufmann

Institutions: Universidade da Madeira, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Agencia Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigacao Tecnologia e Inovacao, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Universidade do Porto, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,630

Funders: Leibniz-Institut für Arbeitsforschung an der TU Dortmund, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação, European Commission, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Interreg

OpenAlex ID: W4285028772