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Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms

Taylor, M, GWINNETT, Claire, Robinson, L and Woodall, L (2016) Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms. Scientific Reports, 6 (33997). pp. 1-9. ISSN 2045-2322

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Official URL: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep33997

Abstract or description

Plastic waste is a distinctive indicator of the world-wide impact of anthropogenic activities. Both macro- and micro-plastics are found in the ocean, but as yet little is known about their ultimate fate and their impact on marine ecosystems. In this study we present the first evidence that microplastics are already becoming integrated into deep-water organisms. By examining organisms that live on the deep-sea floor we show that plastic microfibres are ingested and internalised by members of at least three major phyla with different feeding mechanisms. These results demonstrate that, despite its remote location, the deep sea and its fragile habitats are already being exposed to human waste to the extent that diverse organisms are ingesting microplastics.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: ecology, marine biology, zoology
Faculty: Previous Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences > Sciences
Depositing User: Claire GWINNETT
Date Deposited: 31 Oct 2016 11:35
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2023 13:45
URI: https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/id/eprint/2760

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