CEFASd850b418-61a1-43dc-bf02-12f3fb82e4f3 English dataset Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk pointOfContact 2024-07-24T10:51:42 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2022-01-07 revision WGS 84 CLiP South Africa Microplastics in biota 2019 2020-04-09 publication 2024-07-24 revision 2020-03-31 creation CEFAS20476 https://data.cefas.co.uk This dataset contains 3 csv files. One file (South_Africa_Biota_Microplastics.csv) reports the microplastic abundance in biota samples (anchovies, redeye round herring and sardines) collected and analysed in South Africa in 2019. The file contains data of the samples weight, length and number of microplastic items found. Fish is ordered by 'stratum' (geographical reference, please see South_Africa_Biota_Microplastics_Strata.doc). Fish of the same species in the same stratum were also stored in bags and a blank was measured in the lab to assess contamination while working with specimens from the same bag. Blank values are also reported. in the file. The file also reports information for each sample. Since fish populations were homogeneous in size and shape, body weight and length were recorded for only 5 individuals per bag, and averaged values are reported for all fish from that bag. Stomach weight was measured individually for all specimens. For sardines in strata E and F the lengths and weights of each fish were measured, allowing for further analysis on the health effects of microplastics in sardines. The file South_Africa_Biota_Microplastics_FishMeasurements.csv reports body weights and length of the specimen actually measured in each bag. A third file (South_Africa_Biota_Microplastics_FTIR.csv) contains the profiles of the ATR-FT-IR spectrum analysis of plastic pieces found in the fish stomachs., plus two profiles of known plastic for quality check A README text file contains the legend of the columns of the three csv files. The pictures of the plastic particles analysed with ATR-FT-IR can be obtained inquiring the data steward. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk originator Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk custodian Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT UK data.manager@cefas.co.uk distributor Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS) data.manager@cefas.co.uk owner Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk owner notPlanned Litter abundance and type SeaDataNet P02 parameter discovery vocabulary 2011-03-25 revision Habitats and biotopes GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication Unknown SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2010-05-18 revision Marine Environmental Data and Information Network MEDIN metadata record availability 2012-01-11 publication data.gov.uk MEDIN metadata record availability 2012-01-11 publication otherRestrictions noLimitations otherRestrictions Public data - no limitations to reuse English environment 10.00 40.00 -40.00 -20.00 2019-06-04 2019-07-04 Binary Delimited Unknown https://data.cefas.co.uk/view/20476 Cefas Data Portal download The Cefas Data Portal contains metadata records and data sets available to download and connect to in support of our commitment to open science. Data is available in the following formats: Binary download, CSV. dataset INSPIRE Data Specification on Habitats and Biotopes – Technical Guidelines 2013-12-10 publication false See the referenced specification Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication true See the referenced specification The Commonwealth Litter Project (CLiP) supported Belize to take action on plastics entering the oceans. The assessment of microplastics in biota was part of the action plan to define scientific baselines for future monitoring purposes and comparison. Samples of anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus, 178 specimens), redeye round herring (Etrumeus whiteheadi, 188 specimens) and sardines (Sardinops sagax, 227 specimens) were collected during the 36th Pelagic recruit survey in 2019 carried out on board of the R.S. Africana by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Samples were fished in an inshore area along the SA coastline limited by the Orange River mouth (West Coast) and George (South Coast) and divided in seven areas (strata). In the lab, stomachs were removed, rinsed and chemically digested by a 30 percent KOH:NaClO solution with an incubation period of 24 hours at 40 degrees centigrade. All samples were then filtered, stained with Red Nile dye and a digital image was acquired through a microscope. Number of particles was counted and corrected for particles count in blank samples. Visible particles were analysed using ATR-FT-IR to identify polymer composition, comparing their spectrum to a polymers library. ATR-FT-IR is the attenuated total reflection Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. A Thermo Fisher Scientific Nicolet iS5 ATR-FTIR with an OMNIC software (version 9.9.473) was used and polymers were identified based on the percentage match of IR spectra to a polymer library. Only spectra matched greater than 70 percent were accepted. Spectra were collected in the range 4000 – 650 1/cm at a resolution of 4 1/cm. MEDIN 3.1.1