We are looking at the abundance of microscopic particles of anthropogenic origin (fragments of plastic, paint, rust chips, pieces of colored synthetic thread etc.) at different depths in the water column on different points off the coast of Puerto Rico. We are studying the abundance of these particles relative to zooplankton. Recent studies performed in the Pacific Ocean (http://algalita.org/) suggest that there are large amounts of these manmade particles in the marine environment.

A large number of particles that are found in gyres but are also found in lower concentrations in every part of the world oceans. These particles could be affecting suspension feeders that play very important roles in marine food webs. These particles could clog the suspension feeding apparatus of many of these organisms but can also absorb and transport toxic compounds on their surfaces.

We use a type of net for the collection of plancton that is known as a bongo net (http://www.aquaticresearch.com/bongo_nets_files/ aquatic_research_instruments_ bongo_nets.htm). These nets we used have a mesh openings of 1,000 and 350 micrometers. These nets were towed by a research vessel, at a constant speed and for a given period of time, at approximately 5 m of depth. We also use a Manta Trawl (http://137.110.142.7/textblock.aspx?Division= FRD&ParentMenuId=213&id=1360) which allows us to collect samples from the surface of the water. This net is used to collect neuston (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/410819/neuston).

These nets trap zooplankters such as salp, siphonophore cnidarians, chaetognaths, segmented worms, isopods, copepods, crab zoea, lobster larvae, fish larvae, organic detritus and many particles and segments of materials that should not be there. These samples are then preserved with glutaraldehyde and are refrigerated until analyzed. We then run these samples trough a series of sieves of different mesh sizes in order to separate the contents in several fractions of different sizes.

We then look at the samples under the microscope and try to identify and count all of the organisms and anthropogenic particles. We then measure the dry mass of zooplankters and of the manmade particles in order to determine the ratio of zooplankters to particles of anthropogenic origin.

We are currently working on the analysis of a series of samples that were taken on the Puerto Rico coast on February, 2009 from the OSV/Bold (http://www.cbbep.org/newsroom/2006releases/BOLDfactsheet.pdf). We have found large quantities of plastic particles, rust chips and thread fragments. Please visit our blog for current updates on the progress of this research (http://vidamarinapr.org/blog/)

We would like to thank the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (especially Mrs. Brenda Reyes-Tomassini, Carl Sodeberg, Doug Pabst and Mark Reiss) for having given us the opportunity to work on board the OSV/Bold and for allowing us to bring 9 undergraduate students for the cruise.