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Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation

Join Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation for marine and terrestrial surveys in Greece. Learn about microplastics, their prevalence, sources, and broader implications on marine life. Discover ongoing research methodologies and results, and get involved in conservation efforts. Experience a unique internship with diverse projects and make a difference in marine sustainability.

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Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation

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  1. Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation Michael Wiest and Regina Wang

  2. Archipelagos:- marine conservation institute on a Greek island- about 30 interns at a time from many different countries

  3. What we did in Greece:-Surveys (terrestrial & marine)-Necropsy (golden jackal)-Jackal surveys (Emily’s work)-Wildlife LibraryMain Project:-Microplastics!

  4. Terrestrial Surveys: Chameleons!

  5. And: hedgehogs and terrapins

  6. Marine surveys:-Underwater visual census

  7. Awesome Cuttlefish!

  8. And finally:MICROPLASTICS!!!

  9. What are microplastics? • Plastic fragments <5mm (>500µm) • Typically: polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride • plastic resin pellets, plastic products, plastic product fragments, fibres, rubber, Styrofoam, plastic sheets and sponges

  10. Source and prevalence • Macroplastics: fishing gear, industrial production, littering, and waste effluent • Microplastics: result from photo, thermo-oxidative, bio, and physical degradation. Chemicals contain them. Shipping • Found on all 6 continents • Accumulate in high pressure areas (gyres)

  11. Broader Implications • Plastics resist biodegradation due to short biological timespan • Can accumulate in organisms • Microplastics accumulate Persistent Organic Pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyl, Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDT), Biphenol A)

  12. Archipelagos past research • 18 H. forskali and 4 H. tubulosa sampled: • 24 hour sampling period • Plastics found in all samples (max 32 fibres) • 114 beach sites in 2009, 49 sites in 2011. • Plastics at all sites • Max concentration was 112 fibres/sample

  13. Methodology • Sediment: • Add saturated NaCl soln. Agitate and let settle • Filter and analyze through microscope. • Holothurians: • Keep in filtered sea water 24 hrs. • Return to sea. Agitate and filter sea water. Analyze

  14. Ongoing research • Altered methodology for mass measurements • Take sediment samples at depth rather than distance from shore. • Added sampling in proximity of Holothuria for concentration comparison • Sampling sites on Samos and six sites on Oinousses • Regina analyzed fish guts to study travel through trophic levels.

  15. Sediment results Total plastics at depth Average plastics at depth Fibers Fibers

  16. Holothuria results Fibers/gram sediment

  17. Concentration difference (Holothuria)

  18. Some pictures of fun times!

  19. Some pictures of fun times!

  20. Some pictures of fun times!

  21. Some pictures of fun times!

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