Sediments


Sediment Sampling:


As part of this project, sediment sampling takes place at 7 different stations in Tampa Bay, including Boca Ciega Bay, Egmont Key, Skyway Bridge, Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, MacDill Air Force Base, and Pinellas Park. These are the same 7 stations that the copepod and seagrass samples were collected. The samples were collected using an Eckman grab in September of 2018 and 2019.

The samples were collected to determine the concentration of microplastics in marine sediments around Tampa Bay since there is little previously known about the deposition of microplastics in sediments.

September 2018

September 2019

Total number of microplastics greater than 100um, highlighting number of tire pieces and non-tire pieces found in sediment samples collected from seven stations around Tampa Bay September 2018 and September 2019 (graphs below).

September 2018

September 2019

The percent of tire pieces (37%) and non-tire pieces (63%) in Tampa Bay September 2018 and of tire pieces (33%) and non-tire pieces (67%) in Tampa Bay September 2019.