Natural and anthropogenic effects on microplastic distribution in a hypersaline lagoon
Por:
Quesadas-Rojas, Mariana, Enriquez, Cecilia, Valle-Levinson, Arnoldo
Publicada:
1 jul 2021
Resumen:
Information on the transport and distribution of microplastics in
coastal lagoons is scarce. This study provides the first evaluation of
microplastic distribution in a hypersaline coastal lagoon and explores
natural and anthropogenic factors that drive their location and
transport. The study combines different field strategies: spatial
distribution of microplastics in sediments, for September 2017 (wet
season and peak use of the lagoon) and February 2018 (winter season,
characterized by intense Northerly winds and least use of the lagoon);
spatial distribution of microplastics in the water column in the winter
season; ocean-lagoon exchanges of water and microplastics at the lagoon
entrance during tidal cycles. Also, one-year records of water level
variations along the lagoon provide connections between local pressure
gradients and water fluxes. Statistical analyses indicate relationships
between temporal variations of microplastic concentrations and human
activities. Results show marked seasonality in sources and transport
agents. During the summer, microplastics concentration was related to
human activities. After this season, the accumulated precipitation in
the continental karst region leads to an increase in the water level at
the head of the lagoon. The resulting pressure gradient promotes seaward
flushing of hypersaline water and of microplastics. At tidal (diurnal)
time scales, measurements at the mouth of the lagoon revealed that more
particles were collected in ebb than in flood. This variability
underscores the need to resolve tidal variability for microplastic
sampling in coastal lagoons and estuaries.
(c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Filiaciones:
Quesadas-Rojas, Mariana:
Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico
Faculty of Sciences/Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Yucatán, Mexico
Enriquez, Cecilia:
Faculty of Sciences/Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Yucatán, Mexico
Valle-Levinson, Arnoldo:
Civil and Coastal Engineering Department, University of Florida, United States
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