14 research outputs found

    No evidence of microplastic ingestion in emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri) from the Atka Bay colony (Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica)

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    Microplastic (500 μm using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. A total of 85 putative particles, mostly in the shape of fibers (65.9 %), were sorted. However, none of the particles were identified as MP applying state-of-the-art methodology. Sorted fibers were further evidenced to originate from contamination during sample processing and analyses. We find that MP concentrations in the local food web of the Weddell Sea and Dronning Maud Land coastal and marginal sea-ice regions; the feeding grounds to chick-rearing emperor penguin adults, are currently at such low levels that no detectable biomagnification is occurring via trophic transfer. Being in contrast to MP studies on other Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguin species, our comparative discussion including these studies, highlights the importance for standardized procedures for sampling, sample processing and analyses to obtain comparable results. We further discuss other stomach contents and their potential role for MP detection, as well as providing a baseline for the long-term monitoring of MP in apex predator species from this region

    Spatial distribution of small microplastics in the Norwegian Coastal Current

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    High concentrations of microplastic (MP) particles have been reported in the Arctic Ocean. However, studies on the high-resolution lateral and vertical transport of MPs from the European waters to the Arctic are still scarce. Here, we provide information about the concentrations and compositions of MPs in surface, subsurface, and deeper waters (300 μm), and overall, SMPs 80 % of all detected MPs. However, no statistically significant geographical patterns were observed in SMP concentrations in surface/subsurface seawaters between the six sampling transects, suggesting a relatively homogeneous horizontal distribution of SMPs in the upper ocean within the NCC/Norwegian Atlantic Current (NwAC) interface. The Lagrangian particle dispersal simulation model further enabled us to assess the large-scale transport of MPs from the Northern European waters to the Arctic

    Microplastic concentration and composition in subsurface waters of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

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    The dataset provides information about the microplastic contamination in subsurface water samples pumped from a depth of ∼11.2 m in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Samples (n = 79) were collected between the latitudes 52°S and 71°S, during expedition PS117 (2018/2019) on RV Polarstern. Samples were collected continuously for 37 days with an on-board seawater intake (Klaus Union Sealex Centrifugal Pump, stainless steel, and PTFE; Bochum, Germany) delivering the subsurface seawater to the laboratory through a PTFE-coated pipe system. The seawater was filtered through stainless steel geological sieves with a 300 μm mesh. Sample sieves were recovered every 12 h, resulting in an average of 3.91 (±1.09 SD) m³ filtered seawater per sample and a total of 304 m³. One subsurface water sample was taken parallel to the discharge outlet of the ballast water of the research vessel (filtered vol.: 0.77 m³, vol. of discharged ballast water: ∼250 m³). Putative microplastic particles were sorted visually under a dissecting microscope (magnification 6.7-45x) and analyzed by means of by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy

    Microplastic concentration and composition in surface waters of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

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    The dataset provides information about the microplastic contamination in surface waters of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Samples (n = 34) were collected during two expeditions on RV Polarstern, PS111 (2018) and PS117 (2018/2019), to the Antarctic Weddell Sea, taking place during austral summer. Samples were collected with a surface trawl (manta trawl; 5gyres Institute, Los Angeles, California; 60 x18 cm² rectangular aperture) equipped with a 300 µm mesh and a mechanical flowmeter. On average 234.6 (±83.7 SD) m³ of seawater were filtered per sample (total filtered volume: 7974 m³). Putative microplastic particles were sorted visually under a dissecting microscope (magnification 6.7-45x) and analyzed by means of by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy

    Microplastic research in the Southern Ocean. Presentation at the "JuniorAkademie Bad Segeberg 2021"

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    Microplastics and ship paint in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

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    Microplastics (MP) have been found in nearly all oceans and seas around the world with highest densities mostly recorded in areas directly impacted by human activities or the ocean gyres. Yet, MP pollution has also reached remote regions including the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, where studies are relatively scarce. Further research is needed to help determine possible sources and areas vulnerable to MP accumulations. Ship paints (SP) containing synthetic polymers as e.g. polyurethane, alkyd and epoxy resins have recently been recognized as a MP source and can be released, inter alia, during normal ship operation. However, there is insufficient knowledge about the qualitative and quantitative contributions of MP from this source. In this study, 34 surface water samples were taken in the Weddell Sea one of the most inaccessible places in the Southern Ocean. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of visually sorted particles (> 300µm, n=771) revealed MP concentrations ranging between 0 and 0.04 MP m-3 (mean 0.01 MP m-3). Polyester accounted for 48% of all assigned particles followed by PE (16%), PP (10%), Acrylates/PUR/varnish (8%) and synthetic resins (7%). Half of the sorted fragments had similar visual characteristics as SP taken from the research vessel as reference. Most of these fragments (90%), however, could not be clearly assigned by ATR-FTIR (HQ < 60%). To further examine the composition and source of potential SP fragments Raman spectroscopy was applied as a complementary technique. Multivariate analyses will be performed to compare the obtained FTIR and Raman spectra of environmental SP with reference samples from the vessel and the same SP freshly applied in the laboratory. Currently, measurements with micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy are performed to investigate the elemental composition of the SP particles. Besides providing evidence of MP in one of the most remote areas in the Southern Ocean, this study will evaluate the potential vessel-induced contamination of water samples and enable an evaluation of three different forensic methods to analyze environmental SP fragments

    Unveiling high concentrations of small microplastics (11–500 μm) in surface water samples from the southern Weddell Sea off Antarctica

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    Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of microplastic (MP) pollution in the global marine environment and these pollutants have been found to contaminate even remote regions, including the Southern Ocean south of the polar front. Previous studies in this region have mostly focused on MPs larger than 300 μm, potentially underestimating the extent of MP pollution. This study is the first to investigate MPs in marine surface waters south of the polar front, with a focus on small MPs 500–11 μm in size. Seventeen surface water samples were collected in the southern Weddell Sea using an in-house-designed sampling system. The analysis of the entire sample using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR) with focal plane array (FPA) detection revealed the presence of MPs in all samples, with the vast majority of the MPs detected being smaller than 300 μm (98.3 %). The mean concentration reached 43.5 (± 83.8) MPs m−3, with a wide range from 0.5 to 267.2 MPs m−3. The samples with the highest concentrations differed from the other samples in that they were collected north of the continental slope and the Antarctic Slope Current. Sea ice conditions possibly also influenced these varying concentrations. This study reports high concentrations of MPs compared to other studies in the region. It emphasizes the need to analyze small MPs, down to a size of 11 μm or even smaller, in the Antarctic Treaty Area to gain a more comprehensive understanding of MP pollution and its potential ecological impacts

    Low microplastic abundance in Siganus spp. from the Tañon Strait, Central Philippines

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    Microplastic (MP) occurrence is a major global issue, though data on MP occurrence in the Philippines is limited and the potential effects of MPs on biota are still poorly studied. MP occurrence in fishes remains a concern, especially in economically and ecologically important species such as Siganus spp. This study determined MP occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract of wild rabbit fishes from Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the Philippines. Siganus canaliculatus ( n = 65), S. spinus ( n = 17), S. guttatus ( n = 5), S. virgatus ( n = 8) and S. punctatus ( n = 1) were sampled from the north and south of the strait. All MPs isolated from the gut of the rabbit fishes except for fibers were chemically analyzed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy ; an established library was used to determine the polymeric identities. Five particles were confirmed as polyester, polyamide, polyethylene or phenoxy resin MPs. The average MP abundance was 0.05 items/individual ( S. virgatus > S. guttatus > S. canaliculatus > S. spinus = S. punctatus ), which is comparable to studies conducted in other locations using similar methods. Fibers were counted (1556 in total), but not chemically analyzed. The low MP abundance in the samples may be attributed to the capability of rabbit fishes to discriminate food preferences. However, the risks associated with MPs should not be underestimated, especially as all parts of the fishes-including the gut-are utilized as human foods in the Philippines and many other Asian countries

    Occurrence of microplastics in the antarctic seas

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