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Bioturbation transports secondary microplastics to deeper layers in soft marine sediments of the northern Baltic Sea
Näkki, P.; Setälä, O.; Lehtiniemi, M. (2017). Bioturbation transports secondary microplastics to deeper layers in soft marine sediments of the northern Baltic Sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 119(1): 255-261. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.065
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Macoma balthica (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]; Marenzelleria Mesnil, 1896 [WoRMS]; Monoporeia affinis (Lindström, 1855) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Microplastic Ingestion Macoma balthica Monoporeia affinis Marenzelleria spp.

Authors  Top 
  • Näkki, P.
  • Setälä, O.
  • Lehtiniemi, M.

Abstract
    Microplastics (MPs) are observed to be present on the seafloor ranging from coastal areas to deep seas. Because bioturbation alters the distribution of natural particles on inhabited soft bottoms, a mesocosm experiment with common benthic invertebrates was conducted to study their effect on the distribution of secondary MPs (different-sized pieces of fishing line < 1 mm). During the study period of three weeks, the benthic community increased MP concentration in the depth of 1.7–5.1 cm in the sediment. The experiment revealed a clear vertical gradient in MP distribution with their abundance being highest in the uppermost parts of the sediment and decreasing with depth. The Baltic clam Macoma balthica was the only study animal that ingested MPs. This study highlights the need to further examine the vertical distribution of MPs in natural sediments to reliably assess their abundance on the seafloor as well as their potential impacts on benthic communities.

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