TY - JOUR
T1 - Microplastics in invertebrates on soft shores in Hong Kong
T2 - Influence of habitat, taxa and feeding mode
AU - Xu, Xiaoyu
AU - Wong, C. Y.
AU - Tam, Nora F.Y.
AU - Lo, Hoi Shing
AU - Cheung, Siu Gin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - Microplastic (MP) pollution in the marine environment has gained much concern in recent years. This study investigated the occurrence of MPs in invertebrates collected on 18 mudflats and sandy beaches in Hong Kong and its relationships to biological taxon, feeding mode and habitat. In total 38 species of gastropods, bivalves and crabs were collected and the mean number of suspected microplastics ranged from 0 to 9.68 particles g−1 wet weight or 0 to 18.4 particles individual−1. Around 26% of the suspected microplastics were confirmed to be synthetic polymers, including CP (cellophane), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PA (polyamide). Microplastic fibres were the most abundant type of MPs, followed by pellets. Significantly higher abundance of suspected microplastics was found in gastropods. Since MP abundance might vary with taxon, it is recommended to include different taxonomic groups in any ecological assessment of the impact of MPs.
AB - Microplastic (MP) pollution in the marine environment has gained much concern in recent years. This study investigated the occurrence of MPs in invertebrates collected on 18 mudflats and sandy beaches in Hong Kong and its relationships to biological taxon, feeding mode and habitat. In total 38 species of gastropods, bivalves and crabs were collected and the mean number of suspected microplastics ranged from 0 to 9.68 particles g−1 wet weight or 0 to 18.4 particles individual−1. Around 26% of the suspected microplastics were confirmed to be synthetic polymers, including CP (cellophane), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PA (polyamide). Microplastic fibres were the most abundant type of MPs, followed by pellets. Significantly higher abundance of suspected microplastics was found in gastropods. Since MP abundance might vary with taxon, it is recommended to include different taxonomic groups in any ecological assessment of the impact of MPs.
KW - Biological taxa
KW - Feeding mode
KW - Microplastics
KW - Soft shore habitats
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078696847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136999
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136999
M3 - Article
C2 - 32023520
AN - SCOPUS:85078696847
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 715
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 136999
ER -