Cilician Basin, IMS-METU beach

Litter abundance and type

Plankton nets; sediment grabs; sieves and filters

Sediment, sea surface and water column samples were evaluated for presence of micro-plastic particles along the Mediterranean coastline of Turkey (Cilician basin) in the framework of the MERMAID Project Pilot Study (http://www.mermaid-era.eu/) in 2014. Sampling was performed at 19 stations in June 2014. Amount and composition of micro-plastic particles, accumulated on the top of the shore (strand line), was determined for a model area located in Cilician Basin (METU-IMS beach) sampled monthly in 2014. Fieldwork was performed with plankton nets and Van Veen Grab at sea stations and with sieves at the beach. Laboratory analysis was performed with a stereo microscope. Image analysis was done with computer software. For two micro-plastic size groups (5 - 1 mm and 1 mm - 200 µm) the amount (number of particle per known area / volume), distribution (difference between the areas with different environmental characteristics), composition (classification by physical characteristics of the particles - colour/material), and size (Feret diameter) were determined.

Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University
P.O.Box 28
Erdemli
Mersin
33731
Turkey