| Title |
Unravelling macroplastic pollution in seagrass beds of Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines |
|
Authors |
Shiela Mae M. Gaboy, Jaime Q. Guihawan , Venus E. Leopardas , Hernando P. Bacosa |
|
Publication date |
2022 |
|
Journal |
Marine Pollution Bulletin |
| Volume |
185 |
| Pages |
114233 |
| Publisher |
Elsevier |
| Abstract |
Despite being a leading pollutant in the ocean, there are limited studies about plastic litter in seagrasses, and
none has been documented in the Philippines. This study determined the abundance and composition of macroplastics in seagrass beds of Iligan City, Philippines. Plastics were collected from transect lines laid in seagrass
beds of four sites (Dalipuga, Hinaplanon, Tominobo and Buru-un), and three locations (landward, midward,
seaward) in each site, periodically within 42 days. A total of 921 macroplastic items were collected in all
sampling sites, of which 308 were from Buru-un, 271 from Tominobo, 240 from Dalipuga, and 102 from
Hinaplanon. Landward areas have a significantly higher density than either midward or seaward. The first
sampling was higher than the succeeding sampling period. Food packaging, plastic bags, and fragments predominated the litter in seagrass. This study is the first to document the presence of macroplastics in seagrass beds
in the Philippines. |
| Index terms / Keywords |
Macroplastics, Seagrass beds, Plastic litter, Marine debris, Food packaging, Philippines |
| DOI |
doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114233 |
| URL |
|
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology