Zooplankton-microplastic exposure in Delaware coastal waters: Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) larvae case study
Date
2023-10-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Abstract
High microplastic concentrations in the Delaware Bay have prompted concern regarding harm to local species. We consider the extent to which the zooplankton is exposed to bay-derived microplastics, focusing on Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) during offshore larval migration. We simulate regional flow fields for a spawning season in the Delaware coastal system to advect passive Lagrangian microplastic and zooplankton tracers. Microplastic exposure levels are estimated from tracer distributions. Field sampling of zooplankton and microplastic concentrations for the Delaware Bay mouth and the adjacent shelf in August 2020 is utilized to appraise model performance. Three mechanisms elevating microplastics exposure are identified: zooplankton transport into microplastic-laden tidelines, displacement of microplastics into the buoyant outflow current, and aggregation in offshore plume fronts. Organization via the above mechanisms substantially enhance microplastic exposures over zooplankton migrations (by an average factor of at least 3.8).
Highlights
• Microplastic distribution is tied to surface winds and the offshore river plume front.
• Tidelines, river outflow, and fronts amplify zooplankton exposure to microplastics.
• Offshore plume fronts drive weaker exposure than less common transport pathways.
• Mean microplastic exposures are comparable to source microplastic concentrations.
Description
This article was originally published in Marine Pollution Bulletin. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115541. © 2023 The Authors.
Keywords
microplastics, Delaware Bay, coastal shelf, zooplankton transport
Citation
Thoman, Todd X., Tobias Kukulka, Jonathan H. Cohen, and Hayden Boettcher. “Zooplankton-Microplastic Exposure in Delaware Coastal Waters: Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Larvae Case Study.” Marine Pollution Bulletin 196 (November 2023): 115541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115541.