2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

5/24/2018 | 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM | RIVERINE MICROPLASTIC EXPORT: LAND-USE EFFECTS AND INTERACTIONS WITH FISH | 330 A

RIVERINE MICROPLASTIC EXPORT: LAND-USE EFFECTS AND INTERACTIONS WITH FISH

Microplastic is a contaminant of emerging concern globally. Recent studies have shown that microplastic is abundant in freshwater ecosystems, but assessments of microplastic sources, biological interactions, and budgets in freshwaters are lacking. We investigated the links between land-use and microplastic abundance in river surface water, benthic sediment, and aquatic biota in 9 headwater streams and 8 major rivers in the Lake Michigan watershed. Urban and agriculture watershed land-use were positively related to water column microplastic concentrations across all sites, and watershed forest coverage showed a negative relationship. Microplastic concentration in benthic sediment was 4 to 45 times greater than surface water concentrations, suggesting deposition as an important sink. Microplastic in fish ranged from 3 to 52 pieces fish-1. Zoobenthivores had significantly more microplastic than detritivores, indicating potential bioaccumulation. Results show microplastic is common in food webs of major Lake Michigan tributaries, and that developed watersheds may be key sources and sinks of microplastic. Ongoing work will incorporate these data with measurements of seasonal microplastic abundance in rivers and common macroinvertebrate taxa, as well as assessments of microplastic-associated microbial communities.

Ecosystem
Microplastic
Pollution

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Presenters/Authors

Rae McNeish (), California State University Bakersfield, rae.mcneish@gmail.com;