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Differential impact of planktonic and periphytic diatoms on aggregation and sinking of microplastics in a simulated marine environment.

Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
      Authors
    • Lim YK 1
    (1 author)
  • 2. Department of Ocean Science, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea; Marine Biotechnology & Bioresource Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Busan 49111, Republic of Korea.
      Authors
    • Lee KW 2
    • Park JG 2
    (2 authors)
  • 3. Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
      Authors
    • Hong SH 3
    • Baek SH 3
    (2 authors)

ORCIDs linked to this article

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 02 Jan 2024, 199:115961
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115961 PMID: 38171158 

Abstract 

Aggregation between microalgae and microplastics (MPs) significantly influences the MPs distribution in marine environment. We investigated the effects of two diatoms, the planktonic Pseudo-nitzschia pungens and the periphytic Navicula sp., on the formation and sinking of aggregates when they were cultured with four different types of MPs: small and large polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, and low-density and high-density polyethylene (PE) spheres. Navicula sp. formed aggregates with all MPs within one week, but P. pungens only formed aggregates with PE spheres after 9 weeks. The PE-Navicula sp. aggregates settled about 100 times faster than the PE-P. pungens aggregates (12.2 vs. 0.1 mm s-1), and this difference was most likely due to aggregate shape rather than size. Our findings indicate that the periphytic Navicula sp. had a greater effect on the settling of MPs than the planktonic P. pungens. These findings have implications for understanding the behavior of MPs in marine environments.

Full text links 

Read article at publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115961

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Funding 

Funders who supported this work.

Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology promotion

    Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (1)