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Microplastic abundance in marine sediments off the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, USA, and its implications for endangered species
Citation:
Langknecht, T., K. Ho, AND R. Burgess. Microplastic abundance in marine sediments off the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, USA, and its implications for endangered species. The Wildlife Society's 28th Annual Conference, NA, Virtual, November 01 - 05, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Microplastics, which are plastic pieces less than 5 mm, can be harmful to many marine species through entanglement, ingestion, chemical transport, and other pathways. Marine sediments are often a sink for these types of plastic pieces; therefore, microplastic abundance in marine sediments may have serious implications for many marine species. This study aims to measure the abundance of microplastics along the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire and understand implications for endangered wildlife species in the area. Microplastics were extracted from sediments and then identified for polymer type using Raman spectroscopy. We will then use a GIS mapping program to overlay critical habitat and endangered species data onto the microplastic abundance and sampling locations to identify priority areas for microplastic research or removal. This research will give us a better understanding of microplastic abundance in the region, as well as if any endangered species may be facing harmful negative impacts from microplastic pieces. The intended audience of this research includes state, local, and federal agencies interested in conducting microplastic research, as well as academic and private research institutions.
Description:
Microplastics (< 5 mm) are ubiquitous in the environment, contributing to marine debris and adversely impacting numerous organisms as they transfer between trophic levels. The United Nations recently found that over 800 species are impacted by marine debris globally, whether through entanglement, ingestion, bioaccumulation, chemical transport, or changes to habitat function. Studies suggest that sediments are the final sink for many classes of marine microplastics; therefore, microplastic abundance in marine sediments may have serious implications for many marine species. The objective of this study is to quantify and identify microplastic particles in coastal sediments and assess the potential implications for endangered species using GIS data. Marine sediment samples (n=50) were collected of the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire by the U.S. EPA’s National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA) program during the 2020 field season and a subset (n=10) were selected for microplastic analysis. Microplastic analysis sites were selected based on proximity to areas of high human development (i.e. Portsmouth, NH; Portland, ME). A novel hybrid method was utilized to extract microplastics from the sediments, followed by polymer identification and quantification using Raman spectroscopy. We will overlay MP abundance with (i) critical habitat data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and (ii) endangered species data from the State of Maine to identify areas of overlap with endangered species. This work can then be used to identify priority areas for future microplastic research and remediation actions. This research attempts to broaden our understanding of microplastic abundance and polymer composition in marine sediments to better understand potential impacts on endangered species.
