Abundance, size and spatial distribution of neustonic microplastic in the Ligurian Sea (NW-Mediterranean Sea)

Marine debris has been defined as any manufactured or processed solid waste material that enters the marine environment from any source. While plastics constitute a lower percentage of discarded waste, they are the most important part of marine litter, comprising sometimes up to 100 % for floating items. Plastics have been considered an environmental and pollution threat to the marine environment whose importance will increase through the 21st century. In Mediterranean Sea more than 70 % of plastic litters comes from land-based source. Once in the marine environment debris may remain for many years. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most affected by floating plastic debris however scientific investigation on the impact of microplastics isrecent and results beginning to emerge. Here we report a study on the abundance, size and spatio-temporal distribution of microplastic and zooplakton carried out in summer 2013 in the Ligurian Sea. Surface floating microplastics abundance and area per square kilometer were calculated and compared to the size distribution and mean spatial trends of the neustonic plankton.