2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
5/24/2018 | 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM | ANTHROPOGENIC LITTER IN URBAN STREAMS: SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLASTIC AND ITS ROLE IN LEAF LITTER BREAKDOWN | 330 A
ANTHROPOGENIC LITTER IN URBAN STREAMS: SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLASTIC AND ITS ROLE IN LEAF LITTER BREAKDOWN
Rivers are a major source of plastic litter to oceans, but the distribution of plastic and its effects on ecological processes within streams are rarely studied. Research suggests plastic litter (bags, wrappers) is trapped in addition to leaf litter within naturally occurring debris dams and riparian vegetation. In temperate, forested streams, debris dams are critical habitats and sites of leaf breakdown. We measured spatial distribution of anthropogenic litter within debris dam and non-debris dam habitats in urban streams in Chicago and Baltimore, USA. We measured leaf breakdown rates, biofilm communities, and macroinvertebrate communities in litterbags containing leaves alone, plastic alone, and mixed plastic and leaves in 3 urban streams for 4-5 months. Plastic density was significantly higher in debris dams, including overhanging riparian vegetation, than non-debris dam habitats. Plastic did not reduce leaf breakdown rates or affect macroinvertebrates, but plastic-only incubations had fewer invertebrates. Ongoing work will assess plastic's effect on biofilm communities. Plastic is abundant in debris dams, with variable effects on stream communities and ecosystem processes. More studies are needed to quantify plastic dynamics in stream ecosystems, and contribute to global models of plastic ecology.
- Urban
- Pollution
- Biofilm
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Presenters/Authors
Lisa Kim
(), Loyola University Chicago, lisahaneulkim@gmail.com;
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Samuel Dunn
(), Loyola University Chicago , sdunn3@luc.edu;
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Timothy Hoellein
(), Loyola University Chicago, thoellein@luc.edu;
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