The potential Effects of Microplastics on Biodiversity in the south East Kent Coast

This Paper is written by myself to show
The potential Effects of Microplastics on Biodiversity in the south East Kent Coast


The potential Effects of Microplastics on Biodiversity in the south East Kent Coast




ENJOY

Microplastic Findings in UK waters a Success

The last time I posted on here was to talk about the research i was carrying through about microplastics within the UK oceans and i can proudly say it was a success. I have put the results on my linked in page for any interested readers to take a look at (the link will be placed on this blog).

For many students whom read this blog and study at university or school, I hope it does help you as a quick study guide. I will be writing more frequently again as soon the summer is over for you all, i was having a break away from this myself.

As my dissertation showed the microplastics have been found in UK waters i have decided to go on to do further study within the area. I have already looked a micro marine wildlife being affected across the South-East Kent Coast therefore I starting to come more inland to look at urban areas to view where the main sources are coming from and compare management techniques. All of this will be done with the same university i was with in my undergraduate (Canterbury Christ Church University)

If  you do have any question do feel free to get in contact as always! :) and the link below is my research paper, the link will direct you to linked in but go to the Canterbury Christ Church section and click on the Marine Pollution Bulletin.


The Potential effects of Microplastics on Biodiversity across the South East Kent Coastline

I am trying to get public funding with my further study due the equipment and material that have to be used in the effort to try and reduce the amount of plastic/Microplastic that mount up in the oceans. I have set up a go fund me page in the changes of funding. But my Research is driven more from passion, the love of helping the environment thrive and still stand in such a world that is man made now. I know as humans we don't realize are actions are making things bad for animals therefore there are other humans that pick up the pieces.

Save the Oceans Please 

My Research Over the Past 6 months

Hey Readers,

So I normally put a lot of knowledge on here for many of my readers whether you are a student, general reader, lover of science or just like a read.

Now, I need your help. I have just finished my university course (This is the first time I am revelling my life behind ScienceNerd101). I have been researching Microplastics within the UK

my dissertation was on ‘The Potential Effects of Microplastics on Biodiversity across the South-East Kent Coast’. I am sending this to you due to your help in giving me permission to work on Reculver’s managed site for which I am very grateful for as my data proved to be extremely useful from the area. My name is Georgia Oliver and I have been working on this project for 6 months, I have worked alongside IFCA (Association of inshore fisheries and conservation authorities) whom took water samples using the Florida Awareness method. The reason water samples were taken across the whole of the South-East of Kent was to see the levels of contamination and which areas are affected the most. In contrast 6 sample was taken from a managed site and another 6 from an un-managed to check if there was a break in the chain of microplastic (of which there was not) however there was a fluctuation in species where less microplastic was found, this was due to management skills, and clean ups on the shores stopping oxygen depletion.

This is an effective study to marine research as well as environmental management. If conservation did workshops to educated younger generation to the world of microplastic and marine debris, 80% of plastic may not end up in the ocean as 90% of plastic is microplastic. Therefore, we as humans need to take away that 80% in the future to make an impact.

I am hoping to take a masters’ degree in Ecology and environmental management and would appreciate any help in funding me through this. I do have a GoFund me page that is set up to continue research in this area as I feel this field of research is highly important and I wish to carry on proceeding in this area, All the money made on my GoFund me page is to go towards my research in marine biota and microplastics if you do wish to look at it this is the link below; 

Microplastics with Biodiversity - Gofund me page

Through my Masters’ degree I have two studies I wish to carry out unfortunately I can only do one. Both contain considering levels of microplastics again comparing them to the levels I have seen this year (2017),

1)      Aims to have more access to shorelines across Kent to check biodiversity Species across the south east to check if the levels of microplastic have affected a vast number of species not just in conservation alone

2)      Aims to use Reculver as a scientific area of study to see how marine biota is being affected by microplastics, test if species if such as filter feeders’ cells are effected, if they are this will show how they get into the food chain in marine research.

 

I would be so grateful for any donations, you will be helping the oceans as microplastics create dead zones meaning oxygen depletion which create zones where fish can no longer live if this continues the oceans will no longer be a place for marine biota. it needs to a matter that is dealt with.

Feel free to contact me.

Thank you,

 

Sciencenerd101.

Leaf Eating Pests

 

Information

• Leaf eating pests are insect that chew or consume plant tissue
• Natural insect repellent can be used in some cases
• Finding holes in the leaves of a plant means its sometimes easier to identify the creature/pest

 



• Sawflies chew holes that don't go all the way through the leaf, making it look intact but transplant. they have to killed by insecticides.

Sawflies

• Leaf miners burrow twisting tunnels across leaves another one to use insecticides against

Leaf Miners

• Sucking insects poke tiny holes in to leaves drawing the nutrition out of them. some examples includes aphids, squash bugs and spider mites. sucking insects can breed rapidly therefore you must act rapidly in order to get fully rid of the pests.

Spider Mites

• Slugs and snails will also feed on the plant leaves. However this is normally controlled by the natural food chain

Snail and Slug

Other animals:

• Wood Pigeon
• Ducks
• Geese
• Rabbits
• Hares
• Small rodents
• Deer

Stem-Borrowing Pest

Classification

• These live within the plants stem, often found stunting growth or killing the apical meristem.
• May also infect the roots and leaves
• May be a disease vector

Nematodes

• Stem Nematodes include Ditylenchus and Aphelencoides spp.

Diagram of Ditylenchus Dipsaci



• plant pathogenic nematode that primarily infects onion and garlic. It is commonly known as the stem nematode, the stem and bulb eelworm or onion bloat.
• Live in the roots of the plants to infect their host.
• Symptoms of infection include stunted growth, discoloration of bulbs, and swollen stems.

Coleoptera

Cabbage Stem- Weevil
 

• There's species are more often seen from spring to autumn
• The larvae develops in the stems of the brassicas and then continues its feed from there.
• Widespread throughout England and Wales
• Control used to reduce the amount is by seed treatments of gamma-HCH or Sprays of gamma-HCH, Azinphos-Methyl, Azinphos-methyl + demeton-s-methyl sulphone, chlorpyrifos or triazophos. (GRAHAM and GOULD, 1980)

Diptera

Frit Fly Life Cycle Showing that it is constantly living throughout the seasons

 

• The Frit Fly usually white, yellow and black and are often found in grassy areas.
• They cause damage to new turf by destroying the stems of ryegrass, fescues and bents (use of larvae)
• Adult Flies are attracted to white objects and if a sighting of a large number of these flies could indicate larvae
• Larvae dig tunnels, infect stems and stay through winter
• Fruit Flies can be controlled by chemical sprays

Lepidoptera

Rose Stem Girdler (Species Unknown)

 

• Metallic wood boring beetle
• Flathead larvae is the known youngling of the group they cause the most damage to the rose by borer tunnelling within the pithy centre of the stem.
• Swollen, gall-like area on canes
• Canes with wilted, dried leaves
• Upper portions of canes break off easily during the summer
• Tunnelling in the lower part of the cane
• Boring damage and galleries inside of the cane
• CONTROL; insecticides to kill any larvae and eggs, remove infected plants over the season and over winter  

references;

GRAHAM, C. and GOULD, A. (1980). Cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus quadridens) on spring oilseed rape in Southern England and its control. Annals of Applied Biology, 95(1), pp.1-10.

Soil/Root Dwelling - Homoptera

Cabbage Root Maggots

Cabbage root maggot flies are delicate, hump backed grey-brown flies, about 5-7mm long. Cabbage maggot flies are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, but each will only be found on their appropriate family crop.

Cabbage Root maggot infesting a cabbage under a microscope.



• Small, white bullet shaped eggs are laid in the soil to form maggots which are white and legless they are found in the roots and around the roots as well.

This image shows how cabbage root has affected roots to the crops hugely and reduced the roots making it unable for growth. On top of this, the plant is parasitic for human consumption.

Onion and seedcorn maggot flies are very similar! 

Soil/Root Dwellers- Mollusca

Classification;

• Plant-boring pests- Attack the plants roots, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes or the basal regions of the stem
• Some are disease vectors
• Above ground feeders- on the leaves above ground in wet weather or dark phase.

 What do they do?

• Shred organic material
• Stimulate microbial activity
• Mix microbes with their food
• Mineralize plant nutrients
• Burrow
• Stimulate the succession of species
• Control pests

Predator

Micro-predators can be either feed on different prey or specialists, hunting only a single prey type. Predators include anything from centipedes, spiders, some mites, ground-beetles etc. Many predators eat crops pests and some have been developed for commercial bio-controls an example is parasitic wasps.

Predatory Mites Prey on nematodes, other mites and larvae of insects

Shredder

Seen in the soil surfaces. Chew up the dead plant matter as they eat bacteria and fungi on the surface of the plants. most abundant shredders are millipedes and sowbugs etc. These can become pests by feeding on living roots if sufficient dead plant material is not present. 



Sowbugs; powerful mouthparts used to fragment plant residue and leaf litter.

Herbivores

Numerous root-feeding insects. Mole crickets and anthomyiid flies (root maggot) just being 2 examples. some herbivorous such as rootworms can be crop pests where they occur in large numbers. they feed on roots and other plant parts

The Symphylan, relative to the centipede, feeds on the plant roots and can become a major crop pest if its population is not under control.

Fungal Feeders

Arthropods that graze on fungi includes some mites and silverfish along with springtails. they consume bacteria and fungi off the root surfaces. they are a pest in plants as they are a fraction if the loss in plant nutrients and the nutrients release by fauna

Pale-coloured, blind springtail is a typical fungi feeder. they live deep in the surface layer of natural and agriculture soils throughout the world