Research of microplastics in sea cucmbers (2017)

Microplastics poses a major problem for the marine environment, both in the column of water and sedimentation on the sea bottom. The most convenient habitat for the study of sedimented microplastics is sediment bottoms on which we did initial microplastic analysis in the marine environment of our Adriatic coast. The focus of this research was organisms on this sediment bottom – sea cucumbers. We have collected these sea invertebrates in various locations along the middle Adriatic – Kornati islands, Dugi otok and Silba. Since they consume organic matter from the sea bottom sediment, these organisms are an excellent example of how many plastic particles pass through the digestive system of marine organisms. The research was conducted in collaboration with BsRC scientists and researchers from Italy.