Dataset Information

Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic.

ABSTRACT: High concentrations of microplastic particles are reported across the Arctic Ocean-yet no meaningful point sources, suspension timelines, or accumulation areas have been identified. Here we use Lagrangian particle advection simulations to model the transport of buoyant microplastic from northern European rivers to the high Arctic, and compare model results to the flux of sampled synthetic particles across the main entrance to the Arctic Ocean. We report widespread dispersal along the Eurasian continental shelf, across the North Pole, and back into the Nordic Seas; with accumulation zones over the Nansen basin, the Laptev Sea, and the ocean gyres of the Nordic Seas. The equal distribution of sampled synthetic particles across water masses covering a wide time frame of anthropogenic influence suggests a system in full saturation rather than pronounced injection from European sources, through a complex circulation scheme connecting the entire Arctic Mediterranean. This circulation of microplastic through Arctic ecosystems may have large consequences to natural ecosystem health, highlighting an ever-increasing need for better waste management.

SUBMITTER: Huserbraten MBO

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8931020 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic.

Huserbråten Mats B O MBO Hattermann Tore T Broms Cecilie C Albretsen Jon J

Scientific reports 20220317 1

High concentrations of microplastic particles are reported across the Arctic Ocean-yet no meaningful point sources, suspension timelines, or accumulation areas have been identified. Here we use Lagrangian particle advection simulations to model the transport of buoyant microplastic from northern European rivers to the high Arctic, and compare model results to the flux of sampled synthetic particles across the main entrance to the Arctic Ocean. We report widespread dispersal along the Eurasian co ...[more]

PMID: 35301340

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Project description:Reduction of ecosystem connectivity has long-lasting impacts on food webs. Anadromous fish, which migrate from marine to freshwater ecosystems to complete reproduction, have seen their historically larger ecosystem role undercut by widespread riverine habitat fragmentation and other impacts mainly derived from anthropogenic sources. The result has been extensive extirpations and increased susceptibility to a suite of environmental factors that currently impede recovery. Under this present-day context of reduced productivity and connectivity, aggressive management actions and enforcement of catch limits including bycatch caps and complete moratoria on harvest have followed. What remains less understood are the implications of changes to food webs that co-occurred. What benefits restoration could provide in terms of ecosystem functioning in relation to economic costs associated with dam removal and remediation is unknown and can limit the scope and value of restoration activities. Here we employ, historical landscape-based biomass estimates of anadromous alosine for the first time in an ecosystem modeling of the Northeast US large marine ecosystem (LME), to evaluate the value of improving connectivity by measuring the increase in energy flow and population productivity. We compared a restored alosine model to a contemporary model, analyzing the impacts of the potential increase of connectivity between riverine and oceanic systems. There was the potential for a moderate biomass increase of piscivorous species with high economic value, including Atlantic cod, and for a major increase for species of conservation concern such as pelagic sharks, seabirds and marine mammals. Our study highlights the benefits of increased connectivity between freshwater and ocean ecosystems. We demonstrate the significant role anadromous forage fish could play in improving specific fisheries and overall ecosystem functioning, mainly through the diversification of species capable of transferring primary production to upper trophic levels, adding to benefits associated with their restoration.

Project description:Microplastics (MPs) have been reported as an emerging xenobiotic organic pollutant in freshwater ecosystems and a universal hazard for ecosystems because of the rapid increase in global demand. The present study was conducted to explore MPs' occurrence, abundance and spatial distribution in sediment, water and Schizothorax plagiostomus samples, collected from the Swat River. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used for chemical characterization of visually identified MPs by using standard protocols such as digestion using H2O2, density separation using ZnCl2, vacuum filtration with borosilicate glass micro filter papers and digital microscopy using a stereomicroscope connected with a camera. Range of mass abundance of identified MPs in river sediments, river water, tributaries sediment and tributary water was found to be 0.6-2.5 mg kg-1, 0.7-3.8 mg L-1, 0.9-4.5 mg kg-1 and 0.6-1.1 mg L-1 respectively. Meanwhile, in Schizothorax plagiostomus digestive tracts samples, it was 0.6-1.9 mg per fish. Numeric abundance of MPs in all matrices was found to be tributary sediment (202 items per kg) > river water (192 items per L) > river sediment (182 items per kg) > fish (153 items per fish) > tributary water (92 items per L). MPs identified on the basis of morphology in all matrices were found to be fragments > fibers > pellets > films > foams. MPs were dominant in all urban stations while their spatial distribution along with the study site was heterogeneous due to the surroundings such as tourist spots, hydrodynamic conditions, and proximity to urban areas, plastic industries and due to recharge by the highly contaminated tributaries. The MPs identified on the basis of size dimensions show that S1 (0.5-1 mm) in all matrices was highest while S2 (1-5 mm) was the lowest. Primary source MPs identified were fibers, films, fragments and foams particles while secondary sources were pellets. Results of ATR-FTIR showed that PE was the most common plastic type identified in all samples followed by PVC, PET, PP and PS. This is the first study exploring the MPs' occurrence, numeric and mass abundance and spatial distribution in the SR ecosystem. The present study may be a valuable reference for better understanding the MPs' pollution in Pakistan. The findings of the present study can help to identify the potential sources (i.e., primary and secondary) of MPs to improve waste management in the Swat District and model the transport fluxes of these microplastics in other rivers using water quality parameters and basin characteristics.

Dataset Information

Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic.

Publications

Trans-polar drift-pathways of riverine European microplastic.

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