Bandara Herath, Tharindu
- Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Macro-debris and microplastic abundance in the surface soil of mangroves were investigated at the Negombo and Rekawa sites in Sri Lanka. Macro-debris abundance was significantly higher at the Negombo site (664.8 +/- 87.47 debris/100 m(2)) than at the Rekawa site (1.53 +/- 1.32 debris/100 m(2)). At Negombo, plastic was the dominant macro-debris type (56.25%), whereas metal predominated at Rekawa (43.48%). A significant positive relationship between macro-debris abundance and the percentage cover of mangrove aerial roots was observed at Negombo, highlighting the role of these roots as traps for debris. Microplastic abundance in surface soil was also higher at Negombo than at Rekawa (Dunn's test, p < 0.05), with blue microfibres being the dominant type at both sites. Overall, both macro-debris and microplastic pollution were significantly greater at Negombo compared to Rekawa. Consequently, our study highlights the need to implement a robust plan for managing macro-debris pollution, promote environmental education on reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics, and enforcing stricter waste management and plastic production regulations to conserve the mangrove ecosystems at both sites.
Keywords
Aerial roots; Blue; Microfibres; Metal; Plastic
Published in
Marine Pollution Bulletin
2026, volume: 225, article number: 119275
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119275
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/146137