Microplastics in the Antarctic coastal environment of Potter Cove

ANTACLI, J.; VODOPIVEZ, C.; DI MAURO, R.; ALURRALDE, GASTÓN; RIMONDINO, G.; SAHADE, R.; SCHLOSS, I.

Hobart

Conferencia; SCAR OPEN SCIENCE CONFERENCE 2020 - SESSION 28; 2020

SCAR

Marine plastic pollution has become a global issue affecting even the most remote regions of the ocean. Microplastics pollution (plastic particles <5 mm size) in Antarctica has recently started to be studied and consequently, there are still many knowledge gaps regarding its concentrations, characteristics and potential impacts on the ecosystem. We performed the first detailed analysis of microplastic debris concentration, distribution and composition in Potter Cove (King George Island/25 de Mayo, South Shetlands, Antarctica). Four transects were sampled following the water circulation within the cove, including one in front of the Scientific Station Carlini, to characterize the plastics and infer their origin. An intensive surface sediments sampling by means of SCUBA diving was accompanied with water column (5 and 20 m depth) sampling using three complementary methods: plankton net (263 μm), 5 L Niskin bottles, and an in situ filtering device named Microfilter that allowed filtering relatively larger volumes of water (average 115 L per sample) through a 47 μm stainless steel mesh. Recovered microplastics were photographed, and measured using image analysis software (Image J) and analyzed by Raman spectroscopy to reveal their polymeric composition. Preliminary results showed fragments, spheres of different sizes and colors, being the majority smaller than 100 μm. As the primary risk of microplastics is their bioavailability to marine organisms, further studies are needed to investigate the trophic transfer, bioaccumulation and their ultimate fate in Antarctic ecosystems. Such studies are planned for next Antarctic campaigns.