Journal
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volume 79, Issue 1-2, Pages 293-298Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.023
Keywords
Microplastic particles; Mesoplastic particles; Neuston; Mediterranean Sea
Funding
- F.R.S.-FNRS (Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique)
- FRIA (Fonds pour la Recherche dans l'Industrie et l'Agriculture)
- IFREMER (Institut Francais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The annual variation in neustonic plastic particles and zooplankton was studied in the Bay of Calvi (Corsica) between 30 August 2011 and 7 August 2012. Plastic particles were classified into three size classes, small microplastics (0.2-2 mm), large microplastics (2-5 mm) and mesoplastics (5-10 mm). 74% of the 38 samples contained plastic particles of varying composition: e.g. filaments, polystyrene, thin plastic films. An average concentration of 6.2 particles/100 m(2) was observed. The highest abundance values (69 particles/100 m(2)) observed occurred during periods of low offshore wind conditions. These values rose in the same order of magnitude as in previous studies in the North Western Mediterranean. The relationships between the abundance values of the size classes between zooplankton and plastic particles were then examined. The ratio for the intermediate size class (2-5 mm) reached 2.73. This would suggest a potential confusion for predators regarding planktonic prey of this size class. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available