Abundance and distribution of microplastics in benthic sediments and Cladocera taxa in a subtropical Austral reservoir

IF 3 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Pub Date : 2024-07-17 DOI:10.1002/ieam.4977

Nombuso N. Themba, Farai Dondofema, Ross N. Cuthbert, Linton F. Munyai, Tatenda Dalu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Pollution of the natural environment by microplastics has become a global issue in ecosystems as it poses a potential long-term threat to biota. Microplastics can accrue in high abundances in sediments of aquatic ecosystems while also contaminating pelagic filter feeders, which could transfer pollutants up trophic webs. We assess the abundance and distribution of microplastics in benthic sediments and Cladocera taxa in a subtropical Austral reservoir using a combination of geospatial techniques, physicochemical analyses, diversity indices, and multivariate statistics between two seasons (i.e., hot–wet and cool–dry). We found particularly high densities of microplastics during the cool–dry season for both sediments (mean 224.1 vs. 189 particles kg^–1 dry weight) and Cladocera taxa (0.3 particles per individual). Cladocera microplastic shapes were dominated by fibers with high densities of the transparent color scheme. Pearson correlation results indicated that sediment microplastic abundances were negatively correlated with chlorophyll–a concentration, temperature, and resistivity, whereas they were positively correlated with pH and salinity during the hot–wet season, with no variables significant in the cool–dry season. Cladocera microplastic abundances were positively correlated with conductivity and salinity during the cool–dry season, but no variables in the hot–wet season. These findings provide insights into the role of reservoirs as microplastic retention sites and the potential for uptake and transfer from lower trophic groups. These insights can be used to strengthen future monitoring and intervention strategies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2256–2270. © 2024 SETAC

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亚热带澳大拉西亚水库底栖沉积物和底栖生物类群中微塑料的丰度和分布。

微塑料对自然环境的污染已成为生态系统中的一个全球性问题，因为它对生物群构成了潜在的长期威胁。微塑料会在水生生态系统的沉积物中大量累积，同时也会污染浮游滤食者，从而将污染物转移到营养网的上层。我们采用地理空间技术、物理化学分析、多样性指数和多变量统计相结合的方法，评估了亚热带澳州水库底栖沉积物和桡足类中微塑料的丰度和分布情况。我们发现，在凉干季节，沉积物（平均为 224.1 个颗粒，干重为 189 个颗粒/kg-1）和桡足类动物（0.3 个颗粒/只）中的微塑料密度都特别高。桡足类微塑料的形状以透明色系的高密度纤维为主。皮尔逊相关结果表明，沉积物微塑料丰度与叶绿素-a 浓度、温度和电阻率呈负相关，而在湿热季节与 pH 值和盐度呈正相关，在干冷季节没有显著的变量。在冷旱季，桡足类微塑料丰度与电导率和盐度呈正相关，而在热湿季则无相关变量。这些发现有助于深入了解水库作为微塑料滞留地的作用，以及低营养群吸收和转移的可能性。这些见解可用于加强未来的监测和干预策略。Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;1-15。© 2024 SETAC.

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来源期刊

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESTOXICOLOGY&nbs-TOXICOLOGY

CiteScore

5.90

自引率

6.50%

发文量

156

期刊介绍： Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM) publishes the science underpinning environmental decision making and problem solving. Papers submitted to IEAM must link science and technical innovations to vexing regional or global environmental issues in one or more of the following core areas: Science-informed regulation, policy, and decision making Health and ecological risk and impact assessment Restoration and management of damaged ecosystems Sustaining ecosystems Managing large-scale environmental change Papers published in these broad fields of study are connected by an array of interdisciplinary engineering, management, and scientific themes, which collectively reflect the interconnectedness of the scientific, social, and environmental challenges facing our modern global society: Methods for environmental quality assessment; forecasting across a number of ecosystem uses and challenges (systems-based, cost-benefit, ecosystem services, etc.); measuring or predicting ecosystem change and adaptation Approaches that connect policy and management tools; harmonize national and international environmental regulation; merge human well-being with ecological management; develop and sustain the function of ecosystems; conceptualize, model and apply concepts of spatial and regional sustainability Assessment and management frameworks that incorporate conservation, life cycle, restoration, and sustainability; considerations for climate-induced adaptation, change and consequences, and vulnerability Environmental management applications using risk-based approaches; considerations for protecting and fostering biodiversity, as well as enhancement or protection of ecosystem services and resiliency.