Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys
Abstract A microscopic study of microplankton in two coastal lagoons in the Florida Keys coincidently, and unexpectedly, revealed the widespread presence of high concentrations of polystyrene microplastic particles. The polystyrene particles were first observed in the second year of a 2-year study o...
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2021-03-01
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85388-y |
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doaj-775bcebfa7cf4c9884c50388c338dd892021-03-21T12:32:48ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-03-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-85388-yPolystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida KeysSusan Badylak0Edward Phlips1Christopher Batich2Miranda Jackson3Anna Wachnicka4Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, S.F.R.C., University of FloridaFisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, S.F.R.C., University of FloridaMaterials Science and Engineering, University of FloridaFisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, S.F.R.C., University of FloridaSouth Florida Water Management DistrictAbstract A microscopic study of microplankton in two coastal lagoons in the Florida Keys coincidently, and unexpectedly, revealed the widespread presence of high concentrations of polystyrene microplastic particles. The polystyrene particles were first observed in the second year of a 2-year study of phytoplankton communities, with peak densities in the spring/summer of 2019 at all ten sampling sites in the two lagoons. Polystyrene particle densities reached levels up to 76,000 L−1. The particles ranged in size from 33 to 190 µm, similar to the size range of microplanktonic algae (20–200 µm). Over the period of peak polystyrene densities, average particle densities were similar to average densities of microplanktonic algae cells. The latter observation highlights the potential significance of the microplastic particles for the ecology of the pristine waters of the Florida Keys, if they persist.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85388-y |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Susan Badylak Edward Phlips Christopher Batich Miranda Jackson Anna Wachnicka |
spellingShingle |
Susan Badylak Edward Phlips Christopher Batich Miranda Jackson Anna Wachnicka Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Susan Badylak Edward Phlips Christopher Batich Miranda Jackson Anna Wachnicka |
author_sort |
Susan Badylak |
title |
Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys |
title_short |
Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys |
title_full |
Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys |
title_fullStr |
Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys |
title_sort |
polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the florida keys |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Abstract A microscopic study of microplankton in two coastal lagoons in the Florida Keys coincidently, and unexpectedly, revealed the widespread presence of high concentrations of polystyrene microplastic particles. The polystyrene particles were first observed in the second year of a 2-year study of phytoplankton communities, with peak densities in the spring/summer of 2019 at all ten sampling sites in the two lagoons. Polystyrene particle densities reached levels up to 76,000 L−1. The particles ranged in size from 33 to 190 µm, similar to the size range of microplanktonic algae (20–200 µm). Over the period of peak polystyrene densities, average particle densities were similar to average densities of microplanktonic algae cells. The latter observation highlights the potential significance of the microplastic particles for the ecology of the pristine waters of the Florida Keys, if they persist. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85388-y |
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