ABSTRACT
Nerita articulata A. Gould, 1847 is a type of gastropod that is often found attached to the stems of mangrove plants in Batu Karas. These snails are often taken by the community around the mangrove area for consumption. Meanwhile, microplastics are plastic fragments measuring <5mm, which can be suspended in the water column, sediments and aquatic biota. This research was carried out with the aim of identifying the presence of microplastics insnails Nerita articulata of various sizes, and analyzing whether the magnitude of the density of microplastics was correlated with the size of the snails. The research was carried out using survey methods and laboratory analysis. Sampling was done by purposive sampling at 4 research stations. The samples studied consisted of samples of water, substrate and mangrove snails. Samples of mangrove snails were grouped into three size categories, namely small, medium and large. The results of laboratory observations on samples of water, sediment and snails, found the presence of microplastic fragments, fibers, films and pellets, the average density of microplastics in water samples was 1.75 -3 particles/L, substrate samples averaged 1.75-3 particles. /gram and in snails the average is 3.25 – 5.75 particles/individual. The dominant type of fiber was found in water samples and substrate samples, while the dominant type in the snail’s body was the fragment type. The results of statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between the density of microplastics and the weight of the snails, the greater the weight of the snails, the higher the density of microplastics.
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