AASEC 2019 Conference

Microplastic Abundance in the Water, Seagrass, and Sea Hare Dolabella auricularia in Pramuka Island, Seribu Islands, Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
Vincentia Priscilla1, Mufti Petala Patria1, a), Agung Sedayu2

1Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences., Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI Depok, Depok 16424, Indonesia
2Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Rawamangun, Jakarta Timur, Indonesia, 13220


Abstract

This research focused on the amount of abundance of microplastics in the sea hare Dolabella auricularia as well as the seagrass fields along the southern coast of Pramuka Island. Sampling of 8 individuals of Dolabella auricularia along with seagrass Cymodocea rotundata leafblades was done at the southern coast of Pramuka Island, after which the samples were preserved and brought to a laboratorium in Depok for microplastic analysis. The sea hares- digestive tracts were extracted and dissolved in strong nitric acid. A 1 cm2 portion of a seagrass leaf blade was cut for observation. Prepared samples were observed under a monocular microscope and further analysis was done. Microplastic fibers and film particles were found in highest abundance within the digestive tracts of each sample of Dolabella auricularia as well as on the seagrass surface where the sea hare obtains its algae from, with fragment particles found in much lower amounts. Overall, number of microplastics was found between 40.1 to 73.7 particles/g weight of sea hare digestive tract and the estimated amount of microplastic found at seagrass leafblade was 185 particles/cm2. Results provide evidence that microplastics in the ocean brought by water currents could adsorb on to algae through which it enters the food chain as it is consumed by marine biota.

Keywords: Pramuka Island, Dolabella auricularia, sea hare, Microplastic, seagrass

Topic: Biology

Link: https://ifory.id/abstract-plain/QcWXhDbm3C9z

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