Type of plastic bags
- The types of plastic bags used were:
- Conventional
- Degradable
- Biodegradable
- They had no effect on the rate of ingestion.
- However, the presence of a biofilm led to the shredding which took place around four times quickly.
Results
- Through monitoring in the laboratory and on the shoreline, researchers demonstrated that the plastic bags were torn and stretched by Orchestia gammarellus.
- The micro-plastics were subsequently being found in and around their faecal matter.
Spreading of microplastics
- The results of study shows that the marine wildlife are actually contributing to the spread of micro-plastics within the marine environment.
Microplastics
- Plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris found in ocean and lakes.
- Plastic debris can come in all shapes and sizes, but those that are less than five millimetres in length are called microplastics.
- They come from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing and industrial processes.
Classifications of microplastics
- Primary microplastics- They are manufactured and are a direct result of human material and product use.
- Secondary microplastics- They are microscopic plastic fragments derived from the breakdown of larger plastic debris like the macroscopic parts.
Orchestia gammarellus
- It is a species of amphipod in the family Talitridae.
Distribution
- They are widely distributed in Northern and Western Europe.
Habitat
- This amphipod lives in a wide range of habitats, occurring in marine environments such as shallow waters, the intertidal zone and in estuaries.
- It also lives in semi-terrestrial areas away from water, provided those areas are damp enough.
- It can be commonly found on shingle shores under decaying debris concentrated around the high water mark.
Section : Environment & Ecology