Microplastic Abundance in Telebralia at Mangrove Forest Pulau Panjang, Serang-Banten

Abstract

This research investigated the abundance and the type of microplastic pollution in Telebralia collected at mangrove forest in Pulau Panjang. In total of 60 Telebralia consist of 30 Telebralia palustris and 30 Telebralia sulcata were collected. The soft tissue was extracted with HNO3 65% for 24 hour and mixed with NaCl solution. Samples were observed under binocular microscope and further microplastic analysis was done. Microplastic pollutions were detected in all of 60 species of Telebralia. Most of the microplastic pollutions were fiber. Overall, the average of microplastic abundance in Telebralia at mangrove forest Pulau Panjang was 2117 particles/individual. The number of suspected microplastics found in Terebralia ranged from 1240 to 3420 particles/individual. Telebralia palustris has more microplastic abundance than Telebralia sulcata. This research confirms that microplastic pollutions have infiltrated the marine ecosystem especially mangrove forest. Thus, microplastic pollutions and its effect needs further research.

Keywords

• microplastic
• telebralia
• pulau panjang