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6/08/2017  |   3:15 PM - 3:30 PM   |  SOURCES OF MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN LAKE MICHIGAN AND INTERACTIONS WITH AQUATIC BIOTA   |  306A

SOURCES OF MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN LAKE MICHIGAN AND INTERACTIONS WITH AQUATIC BIOTA

Microplastic is a contaminant of concern worldwide which can reduce aquatic organisms’ feeding capacity, adsorb persistent organic pollutants, and support pathogenic bacteria. Recent research showed microplastic concentrations in the Great Lakes are comparable to or higher than marine habitats. We investigated the sources and biological interactions of microplastic entering Lake Michigan. Eight major tributaries of Lake Michigan were sampled for microplastic in surface waters, benthic sediments, and aquatic biota. Surface water microplastic concentrations were ~13 times greater in an agriculturally dominated watershed compared to a forested watershed, and showed the same abundance, variation, and composition as coastal marine environments. Neogobius melanostomus (round goby) had the highest concentration of gut microplastic (~20 pieces/fish) compared to all other fish taxa, and had a positive correlation between body size and number of microplastic pieces per fish (r2 = 0.71). Results show microplastic is common in aquatic food webs of major Lake Michigan tributaries, and that agriculturally dominated watersheds may be key sources of microplastic. Ongoing work will incorporate these data with microplastic in sediment and in common macroinvertebrate taxa.

  • S29 Macrosystem Ecology of Aquatic Systems
  • C06 Large River Ecology
  • C27 Landuse and Non-Point source Impacts

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Presenters/Authors

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


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Timothy Hoellein (), Loyola University Chicago, thoellein@luc.edu;


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Sherri Mason (), State University of New York at Fredonia, mason@fredonia.edu;


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John Kelly (), Loyola University Chicago, Jkelly7@luc.edu;


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