Water Cooler Talk: Algae and Microplastics Stick Together

Many aquatic ecosystems are under threat from microplastic pollution, the smallest of which can enter the food web through consumption by fauna. Very small microplastics (< 100 microns) can be similar in size to suspended algae cells, which readily aggregate into large clumps through cohesion due to their sticky biological exudates. Aggregation greatly changes the transport properties of these particles, altering their settling speed and making them more attractive as potential food particles. This talk describes ongoing research to quantify small microplastics in Lake Erie and determine their potential to aggregate with suspended algae populations. Findings from this work will increase our knowledge of how the smallest microplastics are transported through our aquatic ecosystems.