Register:
Small Synthetics II registration.
Description:
This webinar is the second in a series about microplastics research in Minnesota lakes. University of Minnesota Duluth Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Kathryn Schreiner and UMD master’s candidate Peter Conowall will provide a research update on the project.
Microplastics are small plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters (1/20th of an inch) in size. They come from common items such as degraded plastic bags, synthetic clothes and textiles, and some hygiene products. Scientists speculate that these particles negatively impact the aquatic environments and ecosystems. Schreiner is researching how much and what kinds of microplastics are found in four Minnesota sentinel lakes: Peltier, Elk, White Iron, and Ten Mile. Plastics were found in the water and in the sediment of all four lakes. In the fall of 2020, researchers began dissecting two types of fish, 1) filter feeders (cisco) and 2) visual feeders (bluegill and perch), to see if they consumed microplastics. Community members collaborating on this project have been collecting fish. Recreational anglers have been submitting fish stomachs throughout the year to research staff who are dissecting and analyzing them for microplastics. Project details, previous webinar information, and how to join the project's citizen scientist team are at mnplastics.org.
Who:
Lakeshore property owners, water recreationists, fisher people, and anyone who is interested in learning more about Microplastics research in Minnesota Lakes.
Contact:
Minnesota Sea Grant environmental literacy extension educator Marte Kitson.
Image credit: Oregon State University/CC2.0