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This study analyzes the occurrence and distribution of plastic litter and the entrapment of plastic by wrack beached on a natural reserve. Large microplastics (2.5 - 5 mm) were the most abundant plastic size category detected. The main color and shape were white and fragment, respectively. The plastics entrapped by egagropiles were mainly transparent fibers. We analyzed the correlation between the weights of plastic litter and vegetal wrack in two transects, selected for their different environmental characteristics. The transect closer to a breakwater showed a significant positive correlation between the weights of plastics and wrack, while the other transect suggested a casual pattern of plastic deposition on the beach. Further research is suggested to focus on the role of breakwaters in altering marine currents and enhancing plastic beaching.
Giulia Cesarini; Alessandra Cera; Corrado Battisti; Davide Taurozzi; Massimiliano Scalici. Is the weight of plastic litter correlated with vegetal wrack? A case study from a Central Italian beach. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2021, 171, 112794 .
AMA StyleGiulia Cesarini, Alessandra Cera, Corrado Battisti, Davide Taurozzi, Massimiliano Scalici. Is the weight of plastic litter correlated with vegetal wrack? A case study from a Central Italian beach. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2021; 171 ():112794.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiulia Cesarini; Alessandra Cera; Corrado Battisti; Davide Taurozzi; Massimiliano Scalici. 2021. "Is the weight of plastic litter correlated with vegetal wrack? A case study from a Central Italian beach." Marine Pollution Bulletin 171, no. : 112794.
Plastics are to date considered one of the main detrimental drivers for the health of aquatic ecosystems, both in marine and inland waters. Regarding the latter habitat, it seems surprising how the plastic effects on benthic invertebrates are neglected since macroinvertebrates have a long tradition in the water quality assessment activities. In this context, we propose timely indoor observations on the exposure of caddisfly Odontocerum albicorne and mayfly Ephemera danica to various microplastic polymers (ABS, PET, PP, PS, PVDF). Three different experimental designs were performed on caddisflies and mayflies by exposing their larvae to natural and microplastic substrates. Our findings highlighted how microplastics affected both caddisflies in rebuilding its own case (after having removed the natural one) and mayflies burrowing. Particularly, all caddisflies rebuilt cases using the microplastic polymers provided instead of natural items only. Moreover, we provide the first evidence that mayflies burrow mainly in microplastic substrates rather than in natural ones. Our research highlights that macroinvertebrate larvae would use naturally occurring microplastics and this could be of particular concern in freshwaters with high contamination by plastics. Indeed, larvae appear to not necessarily perceive microplastics as a direct stressor. Further studies ought to be conducted to understand the chronic perturbation on larvae fitness and for example, on drift behaviour. Also, further investigations are needed to understand the potentialities of using plastics by benthic macroinvertebrates.
Luca Gallitelli; Alessandra Cera; Giulia Cesarini; Loris Pietrelli; Massimiliano Scalici. Preliminary indoor evidences of microplastic effects on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates. Scientific Reports 2021, 11, 1 -11.
AMA StyleLuca Gallitelli, Alessandra Cera, Giulia Cesarini, Loris Pietrelli, Massimiliano Scalici. Preliminary indoor evidences of microplastic effects on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates. Scientific Reports. 2021; 11 (1):1-11.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Gallitelli; Alessandra Cera; Giulia Cesarini; Loris Pietrelli; Massimiliano Scalici. 2021. "Preliminary indoor evidences of microplastic effects on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates." Scientific Reports 11, no. 1: 1-11.
The release of plastics in freshwater is an increasing concern for ecosystem safety worldwide. There is a large knowledge gap on plastic pollution in Mediterranean freshwater, especially regarding surveys along entire river courses, partly due to the absence of guidelines for standardized monitoring of plastics. The present study analyzes the plastic distribution from source to mouth, also according to the River Continuum Concept, of the environmental matrices (water and sediments) and biota (caddisfly cases) of the Mediterranean River Mignone and their cause-effect relationship. The results of the water quality indices (Extended Biotic Index and Fluvial Functionality Index) were compared with the plastic concentrations observed in the water and sediments to explore what relationship there might be and to understand if the indices could be a proxy of the plastic pollution. Our results showed a significant prevalence of blue fibers, the concentration of which in water and sediment is positively associated. Plastic concentration at each site was not accurately detected by the water quality indices. These results may suggest that the factors considered by water quality indices are not able to detect the contamination of plastic pollution. It is mandatory to identify new tools for assessing the plastic impacts on river ecosystems.
Luca Gallitelli; Giulia Cesarini; Alessandra Cera; Maria Sighicelli; Francesca Lecce; Patrizia Menegoni; Massimiliano Scalici. Transport and Deposition of Microplastics and Mesoplastics along the River Course: A Case Study of a Small River in Central Italy. Hydrology 2020, 7, 90 .
AMA StyleLuca Gallitelli, Giulia Cesarini, Alessandra Cera, Maria Sighicelli, Francesca Lecce, Patrizia Menegoni, Massimiliano Scalici. Transport and Deposition of Microplastics and Mesoplastics along the River Course: A Case Study of a Small River in Central Italy. Hydrology. 2020; 7 (4):90.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Gallitelli; Giulia Cesarini; Alessandra Cera; Maria Sighicelli; Francesca Lecce; Patrizia Menegoni; Massimiliano Scalici. 2020. "Transport and Deposition of Microplastics and Mesoplastics along the River Course: A Case Study of a Small River in Central Italy." Hydrology 7, no. 4: 90.
Plastic has become a “hot topic” for aquatic ecosystems’ conservation together with other issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Indeed, plastics may detrimentally affect habitats and biota. Small plastics, called microplastics, are more easily taken up by freshwater organisms, causing negative effects on growth, reproduction, predatory performance, etc. Since available information on microplastics in freshwater are fragmentary, the aim of this review is twofold: (i) to show, analyse, and discuss data on the microplastics concentration in freshwater and (ii) to provide the main polymers contaminating freshwater for management planning. A bibliographic search collected 158 studies since 2012, providing the scientific community with one of the largest data sets on microplastics in freshwater. Contamination is reported in all continents except Antarctica, but a lack of information is still present. Lentic waters are generally more contaminated than lotic waters, and waters are less contaminated than sediments, suggested to be sinks. The main contaminating polymers are polypropylene and polyethylene for sediment and water, while polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate are mainly found in biota. Future research is encouraged (1) to achieve a standardised protocol for monitoring, (2) to identify sources and transport routes (including primary or secondary origin), and (3) to investigate trophic transfer, especially from benthic invertebrates.
Alessandra Cera; Giulia Cesarini; Massimiliano Scalici. Microplastics in Freshwater: What Is the News from the World? Diversity 2020, 12, 276 .
AMA StyleAlessandra Cera, Giulia Cesarini, Massimiliano Scalici. Microplastics in Freshwater: What Is the News from the World? Diversity. 2020; 12 (7):276.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Cera; Giulia Cesarini; Massimiliano Scalici. 2020. "Microplastics in Freshwater: What Is the News from the World?" Diversity 12, no. 7: 276.
Anthropogenic pressure and climate change can affect the structural and functional role of aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, human health can be directly or indirectly affected by environmental factors, due to exposure to contaminants. In central Italy, the summer of 2017 was characterized by high temperature (heat wave) and low rainfall that had an impact on the main reservoir of drinking water (a central Italian lake). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the environmental impact of water abstraction in a Tiber River tributary, as well as to increase knowledge of the link with human and environmental health. The experimental approach was based on the assessment of environmental parameters and ecological quality status through the analysis of biological communities (WFD 2000/60/EC). Furthermore, faecal indicator microorganisms were recovered to evaluate the potential risks for human health. Water and biological samples were collected at three sampling points along the river in different campaigns. The results showed that the sites generally have a good ecological status, although a slight change of boundary class was also observed. It is difficult to establish the cause of this lowering of quality, since it would require a longer period of observation of the communities to determine if it is a reversible process or not, or if it might depend on water abstraction. In conclusion, the ecosystem approach adopted in this study provided a full vision useful for the planning of prevention and/or protection measures for aquatic ecosystems and for human health.
Stefania Marcheggiani; Giulia Cesarini; Camilla Puccinelli; Filippo Chiudioni; Laura Mancini; Christian Angelici; Marco Martinoli; Lorenzo Tancioni. An Italian local study on assessment of the ecological and human impact of water abstraction. Microchemical Journal 2019, 149, 104016 .
AMA StyleStefania Marcheggiani, Giulia Cesarini, Camilla Puccinelli, Filippo Chiudioni, Laura Mancini, Christian Angelici, Marco Martinoli, Lorenzo Tancioni. An Italian local study on assessment of the ecological and human impact of water abstraction. Microchemical Journal. 2019; 149 ():104016.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefania Marcheggiani; Giulia Cesarini; Camilla Puccinelli; Filippo Chiudioni; Laura Mancini; Christian Angelici; Marco Martinoli; Lorenzo Tancioni. 2019. "An Italian local study on assessment of the ecological and human impact of water abstraction." Microchemical Journal 149, no. : 104016.