Figure 3 | Scientific Reports

Figure 3

From: The vertical distribution and biological transport of marine microplastics across the epipelagic and mesopelagic water column

Figure 3

Ingested microplastics are transported into marine food webs by particle feeders. Depth distributions of (A) Pleuroncodes planipes and (C) Bathochordaeus sinkers from 30 years of ROV observations. Microplastic materials from (B) different depths of the water column are transported through the ocean food web by common (D) water column (Caretta caretta, Phoebastria nigripes, Thunnus orientalis, Megaptera novaeangliae) and (E) deep-sea (both pelagic and benthic) (Munneurycope murrayi, Aegina citrea, Vampyroteuthis infernalis, Peniagone sp.) organisms. While some plastic materials are widespread throughout the water column (PET, PA, PC, PVC), other materials appear to be restricted to the surface (PP, PLA) or sub-surface waters (P, POM, ABS, PMMA).

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