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MICROPLASTICS IN MANGROVE AND BEACH SEDIMENTS ON SOUTHEAST FLORIDA BARRIER ISLANDS
| Title: | MICROPLASTICS IN MANGROVE AND BEACH SEDIMENTS ON SOUTHEAST FLORIDA BARRIER ISLANDS. |
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| Name(s): |
O’Brien, Kayla Shae, author Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor Department of Geosciences Charles E. Schmidt College of Science |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
| Date Created: | 2023 | |
| Date Issued: | 2023 | |
| Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
| Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
| Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
| Extent: | 77 p. | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Abstract/Description: | Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a global occurrence. Microplastics have been documented in numerous marine systems and organisms. Coastal estuaries and beach systems are at high risk for microplastic pollution. The distribution, abundance, and hazards microplastics present in these marine environments is not fully understood but are widely recognized as needed to support efforts aiming to protect and enhance these extremely valuable marine systems. This project aimed to quantify the abundance and variation of microplastics in estuarine mangrove and open coast beach sediments on Southeast Florida barrier islands, which are vulnerable and important coastal ecosystems. Barrier islands serve as a buffer between Florida’s wetland environments, reefs, and other marine habitats and may serve as a conduit or temporary sink for microplastics entering the ocean. The microplastic pollution present in estuarine mangrove and open coast beach systems may also elucidate patterns of microplastic pollution in the surrounding or similar coastal environments. There have been no extensive studies or monitoring efforts evaluating microplastics in Southeast Florida barrier islands sediments, nor comparing geomorphic properties of an area on microplastic accumulation. Study sites included back barrier estuarine mangroves and open coast beaches at three regionally similar but geomorphically distinct study sites throughout Palm Beach County, Florida. The sites were sampled seasonally in 2022 (i.e., summer and winter) to quantify the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics. | |
| Identifier: | FA00014354 (IID) | |
| Degree granted: | Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2023. | |
| Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
| Note(s): | Includes bibliography. | |
| Subject(s): |
Microplastics Microplastics--Environmental aspects Mangrove Coastal sediments |
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| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014354 | |
| Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
| Host Institution: | FAU |
