황해 외해역에서 채집된 동물플랑크톤 시료에서 미세플라스틱의 관찰

Abstract

We investigated composition and abundance of microplastics from the archived zooplankton samples collected from the Yellow Sea, Korea. Zooplankton samples were collected from three to five different layers using an opening-closing net (200-&micro m mesh) in spring and summer 2013. A total of 48 samples were processed and microplastics were identified in most of them. Microplastic (200-&micro m &#8211 5mm) was present at most depths in all of the stations and showed consistently higher abundances in the surface mixed layer compared to other depths during the study. Averaged abundance of microplastics (7.93 particles/m3) in spring was higher than that (3.04 particles/m3) in summer in line with the extent of water mixing based on the vertical files of temperature. The average abundances of microplastics are comparable with those of other coastal and open ocean areas such as the North Pacific Gyre and the southern California. Latitudinal distribution of microplastics in the surface mixed layer showed temporal differences, showing higher abundances at low latitudes (spring) and high latitudes (summer). The dominant types were fibers, hard plastic, paint particles, sphere and other foamed. All types of microplastics occurred in spring, whereas fibers predominated in summer. Microplastic to zooplankton ratio, indicating ‘encounter rate’ between microplastics and zooplankton, showed higher range between 0 and 0.59 (&micro m mesh) in spring and summer 2013. A total of 48 samples were processed and microplastics were identified in most of them. Microplastic (200-&micro m &#8211 5mm) was present at most depths in all of the stations and showed consistently higher abundances in the surface mixed layer compared to other depths during the study. Averaged abundance of microplastics (7.93 particles/m3) in spring was higher than that (3.04 particles/m3) in summer in line with the extent of water mixing based on the vertical files of temperature. The average abundances of microplastics are comparable with those of other coastal and open ocean areas such as the North Pacific Gyre and the southern California. Latitudinal distribution of microplastics in the surface mixed layer showed temporal differences, showing higher abundances at low latitudes (spring) and high latitudes (summer). The dominant types were fibers, hard plastic, paint particles, sphere and other foamed. All types of microplastics occurred in spring, whereas fibers predominated in summer. Microplastic to zooplankton ratio, indicating ‘encounter rate’ between microplastics and zooplankton, showed higher range between 0 and 0.59 (