Microplastic contamination is increasingly documented in coral reefs, but information on tropical reef-associated ascidians as potential biomonitors remains limited. This study characterized microplastics in surface water, sediment, and the ascidian Polycarpa aurata at two reef stations differing in proximity to a river mouth at Malalayang Beach, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Five water samples, five sediment samples, and three P. aurata specimens were collected per station. Microplastics were extracted using matrix-specific digestion and separation procedures, characterized by stereomicroscopy, and a subset was analyzed by ATR-FTIR. Microplastic abundance was 838 ± 191 and 790 ± 317 n m⁻³ in water, 390 ± 74 and 118 ± 32 n kg⁻¹ dry weight in sediment, and 11.17 ± 3.21 and 7.50 ± 2.31 n ind⁻¹ in P. aurata at the Near-River and Far-River stations, respectively. Sediment abundance was higher at Near-River (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant station differences were detected for water or P. aurata. Fibers dominated all compartments (76–97%). Among the 69 of 767 particles assigned a polymer type, synthetic elastomers and polyester were prominent. The consistent occurrence of microplastics in P. aurata supports further evaluation of this species as a candidate biomonitor, although validation across replicated sites, seasons, and larger organism samples is required.
Suripatty G., Zamani N.P., Ferse S.C.A., Cordova M.R. and Subhan B. (2026) Microplastic Contamination across Water, Sediment, and Polycarpa aurata in a Coral Triangle Reef. Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan 18(3): 863-886. 10.20473/jipk.v18i3.93431
@article{Suripatty2026,
Title = {Microplastic Contamination across Water, Sediment, and Polycarpa aurata in a Coral Triangle Reef},
Author = {Suripatty, Gabriel and Zamani, Neviaty P. and Ferse, Sebastian C. A. and Cordova, Muhammad Reza and Subhan, Beginer},
Journal = {Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan},
Year = {2026},
Pages = {863-886},
Volume = {18},
Doi = {10.20473/jipk.v18i3.93431},
Abstract = {Microplastic contamination is increasingly documented in coral reefs, but information on tropical reef-associated ascidians as potential biomonitors remains limited. This study characterized microplastics in surface water, sediment, and the ascidian Polycarpa aurata at two reef stations differing in proximity to a river mouth at Malalayang Beach, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Five water samples, five sediment samples, and three P. aurata specimens were collected per station. Microplastics were extracted using matrix-specific digestion and separation procedures, characterized by stereomicroscopy, and a subset was analyzed by ATR-FTIR. Microplastic abundance was 838 ± 191 and 790 ± 317 n m⁻³ in water, 390 ± 74 and 118 ± 32 n kg⁻¹ dry weight in sediment, and 11.17 ± 3.21 and 7.50 ± 2.31 n ind⁻¹ in P. aurata at the Near-River and Far-River stations, respectively. Sediment abundance was higher at Near-River (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant station differences were detected for water or P. aurata. Fibers dominated all compartments (76–97%). Among the 69 of 767 particles assigned a polymer type, synthetic elastomers and polyester were prominent. The consistent occurrence of microplastics in P. aurata supports further evaluation of this species as a candidate biomonitor, although validation across replicated sites, seasons, and larger organism samples is required.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Suripatty, Gabriel
AU - Zamani, Neviaty P.
AU - Ferse, Sebastian C. A.
AU - Cordova, Muhammad Reza
AU - Subhan, Beginer
TI - Microplastic Contamination across Water, Sediment, and Polycarpa aurata in a Coral Triangle Reef
T2 - Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan
PY - 2026
SP - 863-886
VL - 18
DO - 10.20473/jipk.v18i3.93431
AB - Microplastic contamination is increasingly documented in coral reefs, but information on tropical reef-associated ascidians as potential biomonitors remains limited. This study characterized microplastics in surface water, sediment, and the ascidian Polycarpa aurata at two reef stations differing in proximity to a river mouth at Malalayang Beach, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Five water samples, five sediment samples, and three P. aurata specimens were collected per station. Microplastics were extracted using matrix-specific digestion and separation procedures, characterized by stereomicroscopy, and a subset was analyzed by ATR-FTIR. Microplastic abundance was 838 ± 191 and 790 ± 317 n m⁻³ in water, 390 ± 74 and 118 ± 32 n kg⁻¹ dry weight in sediment, and 11.17 ± 3.21 and 7.50 ± 2.31 n ind⁻¹ in P. aurata at the Near-River and Far-River stations, respectively. Sediment abundance was higher at Near-River (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant station differences were detected for water or P. aurata. Fibers dominated all compartments (76–97%). Among the 69 of 767 particles assigned a polymer type, synthetic elastomers and polyester were prominent. The consistent occurrence of microplastics in P. aurata supports further evaluation of this species as a candidate biomonitor, although validation across replicated sites, seasons, and larger organism samples is required.
ER -
