Preliminary assessment of microplastic in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere region of mangrove at four locations along Karachi coast, Pakistan.

Mangrove ecosystem faces significant threats from the various pollutants including microplastic (MPs). The aim of this study was to assess variations in MP distribution in mangrove sediments of rhizosphere (R) and non-rhizosphere (NR) regions. A total of 14,960 MP particles were identified from Sandspit backwater (SS-1 & SS-2) and Creek areas (PQ & KC).

Microplastics assessment in Arabian Sea fishes: accumulation, characterization, and method development.

Around the globe, plastic has been entering the aquatic system and is ingested by organisms. Identification, optimal digestion method, and characterization of the polymers to trace sources are of growing importance. Hence, the present work investigated microplastics accumulation, digestion protocol efficiency, and characterization of polymers with FTIR analysis in the guts of five fishes (Lethrinus nebulosus, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Acanthopagrus arabicus, Otolithes ruber, and Euryglossa orientalis) from the Karachi coastal area, Arabian Sea.

Distribution and abundance of dinoflagellates from the coastal waters of Karachi, Pakistan, northern part of the Arabian Sea.

The present study reports on seasonal and spatial variations in diversity, distribution and abundance of dinoflegellates and indicates the presence of HAB species in Pakistan waters. A total of 179 taxa, recorded in this study from offshore and near-shore waters, belong to 41 genera in 26 families and 10 orders. The high species count (149 species) was recorded from Manora Island offshore station (MI-1) and 105 spp, 109 spp and 115 spp were encountered from the Mubarak village offshore station (MV-1), Manora near shore station (MI-2) and Mubarak Village near-shore station (MV-2) respectively.