Type
Text
Type
Thesis
Advisor
Pikitch, Ellen K | Cerrato, Robert | Lopez, Glenn.
Date
2014-12-01
Keywords
Jamaica Bay, Long Island, marine debris, marine pollution, microplastic, Shinnecock Bay | Environmental science
Department
Department of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
Language
en_US
Source
This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/11401/76218
Publisher
The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.
Format
application/pdf
Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of microplastics in Shinnecock Bay and Jamaica Bay on Long Island in New York. Surface water samples were collected with a 200 μ m plankton tow net, filtered onto metal mesh screens, and examined under a dissecting microscope. A total of 517 microplastic particles were found in samples from Shinnecock Bay (0-0.58 particles m-3), and 1,005 particles were found in Jamaica Bay samples (0-3.93 particles m-3). Particles were visually sorted by size, color, and shape. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze microplastic particle diversity, evenness, and any spatial or temporal variation. Attempts to determine source inputs were inconclusive, but it is likely that Jamaica Bay has point sources of microplastics in the forms of WWTP outfalls and CSOs, and Shinnecock Bay has nonpoint sources from land areas surrounding the bay. | 76 pages
Recommended Citation
Steve, Jessica, "Microplastics in Long Island Marine Estuaries" (2014). Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions). 2155.
https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/stony-brook-theses-and-dissertations-collection/2155