Anthropogenic microfiber dataset for Richland Creek watershed Nashville, TN, USA
Data files
Oct 19, 2024 version files 4.83 KB
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Amundsonetal_2022_AnthropogenicMicrofiberData.csv
3.62 KB
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README.md
1.21 KB
Abstract
Anthropogenic microfiber pollution (small thread-like pieces of microplastic and organic material <5mm in size) can pose a significant threat to urban rivers. However, we often lack an understanding of how tributaries contribute to anthropogenic microfiber pollution in urban rivers. In this study, we examined how anthropogenic microfiber presence and abundance varied in six tributaries of the Cumberland River in Nashville, TN, USA in spring 2022. To do this, we collected grab samples from the six tributaries at four different time points and counted the number of anthropogenic microfibers found across sites and time (n=96 samples). For each of the 96 samples, we counted the number of anthropogenic microfibers by pouring our water samples into steel sieves with three different sizes (5.00, 1.02, and 0.38mm) and doing grid searches with both a dissecting scope and a Nightsea Microscope Adapter with royal blue excitation filter. Over the course of the study, there were anthropogenic microfibers present at all sites and all time points. These findings demonstrate that anthropogenic microfiber pollution is common in tributaries and can be an important source of pollution for urban rivers.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rbnzs7hmx
Description of the data and file structure
We examined how the presence and abundance of anthropogenic microfibers varied in six tributaries of the Cumberland River in Nashville, TN, USA - a growing metropolis with more than 2 million residents. To do this, we collected grab samples from the six tributaries at four time points (n=96 total samples). We then poured water each samples through steel sieves (5.00mm, 1.02mm, 0.38mm openings) and conducted grid searches of the 1.02mm and 0.38mm sieves using a dissecting microscope and a NightSea adapter with Royal Blue excitation filter to look for anthropogenic microfibers. We also conducted two experiments to control for contamination that are detailed in our manuscript. And we corrected total counts using these two controls. Data in the file includes name of site, site number, sample date, microfiber counts found on 1.02 and 0.38mm grids, total microfiber count, and corrected counts.
Code/software
CSV file contains details on site, sample date, and microfiber counts
We collected grab samples from six tributaries at four different time points (n=96 samples). We then counted the total number of anthropogenic microfibers for three different size categories (5.00, 1.02, and 0.38mm). We also did two experiments in the research to control for the number of anthropogenic microfibers that could have contaminated the study and used this to provided corrected values. All of these raw and corrected values are provided here.