Microplastic Abundance in a Large, Brackish Marsh
Kyle Roe
School of the Environment
Faculty Supervisor: Leora Nanus
Researchers have identified wetlands as sinks of microplastic accumulation, with ample exchange between environmental compartments (air, water, soil) and storage of microplastic particles. Microplastics and their chemical additives bioaccumulate across trophic levels in ecosystems, negatively influencing soil characteristics, bacterial diversity, and overall ecosystem health. My study aims to measure microplastic abundance and type in surface water samples taken from ~5 in sites in Suisun Marsh, Solano County, CA. Once microplastics are extracted from the samples using Mingoa & Anand’s (2024) procedure, stained, and counted under a fluorescent microscope, they will be scanned by a Raman spectrometer to differentiate plastics by type (i.e. PET, nylon, tire wear) and identify false positives. The results for abundance and type will be mapped using ArcGIS Pro, where relationships across space and potential sources will be identified. Suisun Marsh is California’s largest brackish marsh, receiving freshwater flows from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and more saline flows from the San Francisco Bay. Few studies have quantified microplastics within the intensely managed and fragmented marsh, and my study seeks to help fill this gap.