Depth profiles of microplastic in sediment cores in seagrass and adjacent areas
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Abstract
Seagrass beds are vital biodiversity hotspots, offering habitats for many species of fish and marine organisms. Additionally, they play an essential role in nutrient cycling, sequestering carbon, and mitigating coastal erosion. These ecosystems are facing growing threats from pollution, including microplastics (MPs) contamination (< 5 mm). mined The vertical distribution of microplastics in sediment cores (depths 0-20 cm) in seagrass beds and adjacent areas at Kalase Bay, located in Trang Province, facing to Andama sea, southern Thailand was investigated. The results revealed the presence of MPs in both seagrass and non-seagrass areas, with higher concentrations found in the surface area (depths 0-5 cm) than the bottom (depths 15-20 cm) at many stations. The main shapes of microplastics were mostly made up of fibers and fragments. The most prominent color consisted of transparent particles, followed by black and blue particles. This result suggested that microplastic was accumulated in the depth profile of sediment at both areas especially at seagrass beds may perform as effective sinks for microplastics, likely due to their root and leaf structures that support MPs trapping, highlighting the need for pollution management and conservation strategies in coastal ecosystems.
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