Browsing by Author "Praboda, M.W.K."

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    Occurrence of Microplastics in Gut and Muscles of Commerson's Anchovy in Madu-Ganga Estuary of Southern Province, Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Praboda, M.W.K.; Egodauyana, K.P.U.T.; Wijethunga, H.N.S.; Abeygunawardana, A.P.; Senevirathna, J.D.M.; Thushari, G.G.N.
    Plastic pollution causes serious ecological risks on biodiversity with toxicological effects on the biota. The objective of this study was to assess microplastic accumulation in seasonally common fishery resource: Stolephorus commersonnii (Commerson's Anchovy) harvested from Madu-ganga estuarine ecosystem. Fifteen matured fish samples (n=15) were randomly collected from local fishermen from November 2019 to January 2020. Microplastic particles were extracted from the digestive tract and muscles of anchovies using the recommended protocol of 10% KOH digestion. Hot needle test and Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) analysis were used for the confirmation of microscopically observed microplastics in anchovy samples. Microscopically observed microplastics were counted and categorized according to the size, color, and shape of plastics. Results revealed the microplastic accumulation in both the digestive tract and muscles of anchovies. Microplastics accumulate into the muscles via translocation and different respiratory modes. The average microplastic accumulation rate of anchovy gut and muscles were recorded as 301.70±3.58 items/g and 29.33±1.19 items/g respectively. White/transparent microplastic particles were the most abundant type in both guts (145.50±2.18 items/g) and muscles (13.55±1.23 items/g) of fish. However, blue (71.33+0.83 items/g: gut, 9.85+1.13 items/g: muscle), black (37.85+1.07 items/g: gut, 2.49+0.44 items/g: muscle), red (28.31+0.60 items/g: gut, 2.31+0.3 items/g: muscle) and pink (15.31+0.34 items/g: gut 0.96+0.24 items/g: muscle) microplastic debris were also recorded from gut and muscle samples. The majority of accumulated plastics in both gut and muscles were at the size range of 0.50 -1.00 mm. Fiber shape microplastics were observed in all the samples. FTIR results revealed that polypropylene as the only polymer type of microplastics in fish muscles and gut. This polymer is a key component of fishing ropes, netting materials, bottle caps, and packaging materials that enter through tourism/recreational activities and fishery operations into the estuarine ecosystem. Therefore, the current study recommends sustainable, integrated fishery management and eco-tourism programs focusing on plastic pollution control and prevention activities in Madu-ganga estuarine ecosystem. In conclusion, this study highlights the occurrence of microplastic contamination in the estuarine biota and the urgent need for plastic wastes management programs. Keywords: Coastal fishery resources, Estuarine ecosystem, Integrated fishery management, Microplastic accumulation rate, Plastic pollution control programmes
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    Screening of Plastic Pollution Effects in Madu-ganga Estuarine Ecosystem in Southern Province, Sri Lanka: An Approach toward the Coastal Zone Management
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Praboda, M.W.K.; Wijethunga, H.N.S.; Silva, A.P.R.; Gayathry, D. L.; Abeygunawardana, A.P.; Senevirathna, J.D.M.; Thushari, G.G.N.
    Plastic pollutants act as the emerging contaminant with possible threats to aquatic ecosystems. The present study attempts to assess microplastic (MP) content in surface water and sediments of Madu-Ganga estuary which is one of the ecologically and commercially important Ramsar wetlands in Sri Lanka. Manta net (380 μm) was employed to collect surface water samples by towing net horizontally along water surface for 10 m with 1.8 ms-1 of average flow rate, while Ekman grab was used for sampling sediments from 4 study sites during October 2019 to January 2020. Wet Peroxide Oxidation (WPO) protocol was applied after subjecting both water and sediment samples to the wet sieving process. Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) analysis was used to confirm polymer types of extracted MPs in samples. MPs in digested samples were enumerated and categorized microscopically according to their size, shape, and color. One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to identify the differences of MPs density with sampling location (p<0.05). According to the results, both surface water and sediment layers had contaminated by MPs accumulation. Sampling location had not significant (p>0.05) effect on the MP content of surface water and sediment samples. Average MPs accumulation rate of surface water and sediment samples were recorded as 40.06±1.84 items/m3 and 5.88±1.33 items/100g respectively. Whitetransparent, blue, black, and red were major color categories observed in MPs, while white-transparent color was dominant MP type of water and sediment samples. Most of the accumulated MPs were at the 0.50-1.00 mm of long-range. Fiber, sheet, and fragment shape MPs were commonly found in water and sediment samples. According to FTIR analysis, polypropylene (Characteristic absorption bands: 2950 cm−1 , 2915 cm− 1 , 2838 cm− 1 , 1455 cm− 1 , 1377 cm− 1 ) was abundant polymer type in surface water, while sediment contains polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride (Characteristic absorption bands: 1427 cm−1 , 1331 cm−1 , 1255 cm−1 ,1099 cm−1 , 966 cm−1 ). As per the preliminary survey, two major anthropogenic activities: commercial fishery and tourism were identified as the main point and non-point pollution sources in this ecosystem. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the growing risk of plastic pollution and the urgent need for a sustainable management plan to reduce plastic pollution in the Madu-Ganga estuary ecosystem. Keywords: Plastic contamination, Microplastics, Coastal ecosystem, Surface water, Benthic sediments, Anthropogenic factors