Fouling assemblage of benthic plastic debris collected from Mersin Bay, NE Levantine coast of Turkey. Issue 1 (15th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gündoğdu, Sedat; Çevik, Cem; Karaca, Serkan
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 124:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2017-11-15
• Subjects: Marine plastic debris -- Biofouling -- ATR-FTIR -- Marine pollution -- Mersin Bay; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The Mediterranean is an ecosystem that faces more and more microplastic pollution every day. This causes the whole of the Mediterranean to face the negative effects of plastic pollution. This study examines the state of plastic debris and fouling organisms found on it in one of the areas most affected by plastic pollution, Mersin Bay. As a result, a total of 3.88 kg plastic (mean = 0, 97 kg; n = 120; 2670 item/km 2 ; 86, 3 kg/km 2 ) was collected and based on the ATR-FTIR analysis, it was determined that this total contained 9 types of plastics. 17 different fouling sp ecies belonging to 6 phylum (Annelida, Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Mollusca) 7 class and 11 order were discovered on plastics. Spirobranchus triqueter, Hydroides sp. and Neopycnodonte cochlear were the most abundant species. In the end, the example of Mersin Bay shows that plastic debris as a substrate can contain a very high diversity of life just like natural substrates. Highlights: High amount of macrofouling organisms are found on benthic macroplastics in Mersin bay. There are quite different types of macroplastic debris in Mersin Bay. There is a strong positive relationship between the plastic surface area and the amount of macrofouling organisms. There is no significant statistical relationship between the type of plastic and the amount of macrofouling organism.