Distribution, Diversity, and Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Mangrove Ecosystems of a Southeastern Chinese Estuary.

Mangrove ecosystems, serving as critical barriers at land-sea interfaces, face increasing threats from microplastic pollution. This study investigates the spatial distribution, diversity, and ecological risks of microplastics in sediments from the Zhangjiang Estuary mangroves, in southeastern China. Sampling was conducted along two gradients: upstream-downstream and interior-edge habitats.

The Effects of Rainfall Events on the Composition and Diversity of Microplastics on Beaches in Xiamen City on a Short-Term Scale.

Coastal beaches are vulnerable to microplastic pollution originating primarily from terrestrial and marine sources or the in situ weathering of plastic waste. The present study investigates the effects of rainfall events on the composition and diversity of microplastics on beaches in Xiamen City on a short-term scale. In the results, the quantity of microplastics in beach sediments was 245.

Microplastic contamination in the dominant crabs at the intertidal zone of Chongming Island, Yangtze Estuary.

Crabs are one of the most critical and dominant species of the intertidal zone. Their feeding, burrowing, and other bioturbation activities are common and intense. However, baseline data on microplastic contamination in wild intertidal crabs are still lacking.

Distribution characteristics of microplastics and corresponding feeding habits of the dominant shrimps in the rivers of Chongming Island.

There is increasing global concern regarding microplastics. Rivers play a key role in the transportation and storage of microplastics on the Earth's surface. Here, we aimed to investigate the spatial-temporal variations in the distribution of microplastics in water as well as in the dominant species of the macrobenthic fauna Exopalaemon modestus and Macrobrachium nipponense in the river system of Chongming Island by setting up 16 fixed sampling sites.

Investigating a probable relationship between the distribution of microplastics and crab burrows in the intertidal zone of Chongming Island, Yangtze Estuary.

Crab burrows are common biogeomorphic structures in the sedimentary environment of the intertidal zone. Existing studies have revealed crab burrows could function as traps and sinks for fine sediment particles and organic detritus transported by the overlying water. However, it was unknown whether the distribution of microplastics was related to crab burrows.

Variation in microplastics composition at small spatial and temporal scales in a tidal flat of the Yangtze Estuary, China.

Microplastics are small, degrade slowly, and easily persist in the water column because they are close to neutrally buoyant. Understanding the distribution of microplastics is fundamental to evaluating the ecological risks that they cause and to identifying ways to control microplastics pollution. Most of the existing research on the distribution of microplastics in the coastal zone has focused on large spatial and temporal scales.