The ubiquitous distribution of microplastics (< 5 mm: MPs) in has become a global concern, as annual production of plastic materials increases. MPs have been found in all ecosystems, even those considered pristine. Seagrasses, a type of marine canopy forming plant, are considered major carbon sinks as they are known to efficiently trap particles, including MPs, in their canopy and sediment. Thus, a correlation between the concentration of MPs and the organic carbon (OC) content could exist in this ecosystem. Due to varying position along the tidal front, subtidal and intertidal seagrass meadows could show differences in their capacity to trap MPs and sequester carbon. OC and MP stocks were assessed for deep sediment cores in the Ria Formosa, Portugal. The MP particles were characterized by visual identification and with Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A weak positive correlation was found between the OC content and MP concentration. OC stocks and MP stocks did not significantly differ between habitats. Due to high variability among replicates, extrapolation to the entire Ria Formosa lagoon should be done with extreme caution. This was the first study, to our knowledge, to have calculated the MP stocks in the Ria Formosa, and to assess the correlation between OC content and MP concentration in a deep sediment sample.
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