The concentration of microplastics in epibiont of green mussel (Perna viridis) from Maccini Baji waters, Pangkajene Kepulauan

The discharge of microplastics into marine waters harms aquatic ecosystems, especially for filter feeder organisms such as green mussels. The purpose of this study was to analyze the shape, size, and color of microplastics and the concentration of microplastics in the epibiont associated with green mussels (Perna viridis) and the effect of the presence of epibionts on the concentration of microplastics in green mussels as a substrate. Sampling was done using the purposive random sampling method. Determination of the number of samples using Lemeshow’s formula and obtained 99 green mussels associated with epibiont. The samples were divided into three groups, namely mussel associated with epibiont with microplastic found in epibiont, mussel associated with epibiont with microplastic found in mussel, and mussel without epibiont with microplastics in mussel. The results showed that the number of microplastics contaminated to the mussel group associated with epibiont with microplastic in the epibiont was 46 samples, to the mussel group associated with epibiont with microplastic in mussel was seven samples, and the mussel group without epibiont with microplastic in mussel there were 11 samples. The results also showed that if the microplastic were present in the epibiont, the green mussels associated with the epibionts did not contain microplastics. Conversely, if microplastics contaminated the green mussels, then epibionts were not contaminated by microplastics. The microplastics found ranged from 0.1-4.9 mm in length. The microplastic forms found were fibers and fragments. The microplastic colors found were red, blue, white, and black. The mean values of microplastic concentrations in epibiont, mussel associated with epibiont, and mussel without epibiont were 3.629 items/g, 0.7160 items/g, and 1.032 items/g, respectively.