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Christopher Gebhardt

The role of bioturbation in microplastic burial in marine sediments

Universität Rostock, 2019

https://doi.org/10.18453/rosdok_id00002534

Abstract: In this study, the influence of activities carried out by benthic invertebrates on microplastic redistribution is investigated. Sediment reworking activity of two marine polychaetes (H. diversicolor; A.marina) representing different bioturbation types resulted in considerable differences in microplastic transport. Size-selective feeding activity of A. marina caused a long-term retention of larger microplastic particles in considerable sediment depths down to 20 cm, emphasizing the ability of certain bioturbation types to facilitate deep or fast particle transport.

doctoral thesis   free access