Evolution of the Distribution and Dynamic of Microplastic in Water and Biota: A Study Case From the Gulf of Gabes (Southern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution represents a major problem owing to its increasing presence in the environment, persistence and ability to spread in every compartment in the form of small plastic particles, namely microplastics (MPs). Studies concerning MPs abundance in the Mediterranean Sea are growing, but their occurrence in the Southern regions remains largely unexplored. In this study, distribution, abundance, size, and polymer type of microplastics were investigated in surface water samples collected with a Manta net (200 μm mesh size) and in 118 marine specimens of commercial interests, including fishes, crustaceans, and mollusks, during Spring and Autumn 2019 EU H2020 Claim Project sampling Campaigns in the Gulf of Gabes (Southern Mediterranean Sea). Laboratory characterization showed significant plastic pollution concentrations, with an average abundance of 312,887 and 77,110 items/km2 in surface water samples collected in Spring and Autumn, respectively. A 3D hydrodynamic and Tracking Model was used to identify dispersal and transport pathways of the floating plastics, reporting a seasonal variability observed in MPs distribution between I (Spring) and II Campaign (Autumn). Despite the high values of MPs abundance found in surface water samples, an overall low frequency of ingestion among studied species was observed, with a maximum value of 20% of individuals (in Scomber scombrus) found with ingested MPs. The present study contributes to expand our state of knowledge regarding MPs pollution level in water and biota samples collected in the Gulf of Gabes, an area of particular interest for its biological resources, but still little investigated.

Variation in microplastic characteristics among amphibian larvae: a comparative study across different species and the influence of human activity

“…This compound constituted 22% of our synthetic polymer identifications, yet, as far as we are aware, it has not been documented in amphibians. Nonetheless, this synthetic rubber was reported in water 55 , sediment 56 , and significantly, it was found to be prevalent in benthic freshwater invertebrates such as Asellidae, Naididae, and Chironomidae larvae 57 , all of which are known to be preyed upon by amphibian larvae 58 . This suggests the possibility of a trophic transfer of this compound, a hypothesis that warrants further investigation.…”

A Mediterranean Focus Overview of EU Marine Litter Data Management Performed in the Framework of the European Marine Observation and Data Network Chemistry

“…The availability and accessibility of these data are very significant. In the Mediterranean basin, there is consistent activity on litter research [49], and there are multiple small-scale studies conducted on project-based initiatives [37,38,50,51], research based on the existing limited-scale studies [52,53], and even online databases (https://litterbase.awi.de/, accessed on 25 October 2023) of marine litter studies. However, the number of regional studies based on the existing available data is really scarce [52], reporting in some cases the difficulties in finding data [54].…”

First investigation of microplastic pollution in Monastir Sea surface water (eastern Tunisia)

“…Furthermore, a study published in the same year, conducted to define the effects of environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of microplastics in the waters of the Bizerte lagoon [46]. Recently, a study that aims to conduct a characterization of the level of pollution by microplastics in the Gulf of Gabes [5].…”