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Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology
An Analysis Of Suspended Microplastics In Sewage Outfalls, Inlets, And Coastal Waters Of Broward County, Florida, Katrina A. Smith
An Analysis Of Suspended Microplastics In Sewage Outfalls, Inlets, And Coastal Waters Of Broward County, Florida, Katrina A. Smith
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
The widespread use of plastics has led to a surplus of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean. The degradation of these plastics produces microplastics, which are detrimental to the environment. Microplastics can be introduced into the ocean in several ways, including runoff and sewage outfalls; both pathways can concentrate microplastics and promote adsorption of environmental contaminants to the plastic's surface. South Florida has six sewage outfalls, and nine inlets, whose proximity to the Florida Reef Tract increases the potential exposure of microplastics to sensitive environments, such as the coral reef. A quantitative assessment of microplastics introduced into the ocean …
Ubiquitous Microplastics In The Upper Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Florida Coastal Seabirds, Jonathan J. Clark, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Dave Kerstetter
Ubiquitous Microplastics In The Upper Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Florida Coastal Seabirds, Jonathan J. Clark, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Dave Kerstetter
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles
Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a global problem. In particular, plastic pieces <5 mm in size (‘microplastics’) are of interest due to their prevalence and association with harmful, persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Very little is known about the prevalence of microplastics in coastal birds. Yet, these water-associated birds are at a high risk of ingesting microplastics that accumulate near the water’s surface. This study describes the microplastics found in the proventriculus and ventriculus of four species of coastal birds regarding quantity, size, type (fiber or fragment), and color (light, mid, or dark). A total of 643 microplastic particles were identified, with 43 of the 44 study specimens containing microplastics (97.7% frequency). The ‘fiber’ type and the ‘mid’ color were the most common microplastics. There were no significant differences between species for particle sizes, but Brown Pelicans contained significantly more particles than the other three species. These results highlight the prevalence of plastic pollution in medium-sized seabirds, but more work is needed to determine microplastic patterns between taxa and foraging environments.