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Faculty Advisor

Timothy Sparkes

Abstract

Contamination of oceans by microplastics (mm) currently poses a major threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Recent attention towards this issue has raised questions about the extent to which microplastics have accumulated in the environment, and has led to an increase in studies on the effects of microplastics in various organisms. However, levels of contamination in protected natural areas are still largely unexplored, yet can offer an important empirical perspective on the issue. In addition, little is known about the potential effects of microplastics on behavior in the field. This research was conducted within the protected ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR, South Carolina, USA). In this habitat, the marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) is a primary consumer in salt marsh and serves as an indicator of the health of the ecosystem. We examined the pattern of microplastic accumulation in the foot and intestines of marsh periwinkles (n = 60) in relation to their availability in the habitat (water column, sediment). We also examined the relationship between microplastics and behavior (microhabitat use). We found that periwinkles accumulated microplastics in a non-random manner, relative to the habitat, and that this pattern was generally consistent between the foot and intestines. Microplastic abundance was also similar for periwinkles collected on the sediment and those collected on the cordgrass, indicating that there was no obvious effect of microplastics on microhabitat use. There was no detectable relationship between microplastics and periwinkle size and no consistent effect of distance from the estuary on microplastics.

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