Polyester microfiber impacts on coastal sediment organic matter consumption

• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116298
• Publication Date: 2024-04-08T08:51:13Z
• Authors: Samantha M. Ladewig; Thomas S. Bianchi; Giovanni Coco; Eliana Ferretti; Rebecca V. Gladst...; Jenny Hillman; Julie A. Hope; Candida Savage; Stefano Schenone; Simon F. Thrush
• Keywords: Microfiber; Plastic pollution

As plastic pollution continues to accumulate at the seafloor, concerns around benthic ecosystem functionality heightens. This research demonstrates systematic effects of polyester microfibers on seafloor organic matter consumption rates, an important function connected multiple reactions and processes. We used a field-based assay measure loss matter, both with without microfiber contamination. identified sediment content, mud mean grain size as main drivers consumption, however, contamination decoupled relationships altered observed cycling dynamics. Organic rates varied across horizontal vertical spaces, highlighting that associated are dependent environmental heterogeneity small (within sites) larger (between scales. Our results emphasize role habitat plays in function.