Dr Cath Waller

Dr Cath Waller's Supervisions (2)

PhD Earth Science / Biological sciences
PhD / DPhil

Level PhD / DPhil

Student Felicitas Ten Brink

Status Current

Part Time No

Years 2019 - 2022

Project Title Microplastic in marine food webs- potential for accumulation and transfer

Awarding Institution University of Hull

Director of Studies Bryony Caswell

Second Supervisor Cath Waller

Level	PhD / DPhil
Student	Felicitas Ten Brink
Status	Current
Part Time	No
Years	2019 - 2022
Project Title	Microplastic in marine food webs- potential for accumulation and transfer
Awarding Institution	University of Hull
Director of Studies	Bryony Caswell
Second Supervisor	Cath Waller

MSc (by thesis) Environmental Sciences
MRes

Level MRes

Student Clare Collins

Status Complete

Part Time Yes

Years 2019 - 2023

Project Title Analysing microplastics in Antarctic fishes from the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area in the Southern Ocean

Project Description Understanding microplastic uptake in fish is of global importance for environmental pollution monitoring of ecosystems as well as understanding the potential ecological implications, human health risk and global economy impacts of plastics within commercially fished species. Much of the research in fish so far has focussed on areas of high human population or industry, but understanding the occurrence of microplastics pollution in more remote areas is vital for defining the scale of the problem and understanding organism uptake at lower pollution levels.
In this study, fish caught in 2017 as part of a monitoring survey from the remote Marine Protected Area around South Georgia were sampled for ingestion of plastics. Differences in plastic types and concentrations were determined between locations around the island and across a generalist feeder and a specialist feeder.
Fish guts were digested with a commonly used method, 2M potassium hydroxide to isolate suspected plastics using microscopy. Contamination was controlled and monitored throughout all steps with strict QC followed. All potential microplastics were chemically characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.
Microplastics particles were found across all locations and observed in the guts of both generalist and specialist feeders. Most of the particles were fragments (87.5%) and almost half (40.6%) were a composite material rather than pure plastic polymer. The findings provide much needed evidence on microplastics ingestion by fish in a remote Marine Protected Area. This information will contribute to baseline figures for monitoring future microplastics pollution in this important ecosystem.
Keywords: plastics, microplastics, composites, marine, ecosystems, pollution, conservation, Antarctic, polar, fishes, ingestion

Awarding Institution University of Hull

Director of Studies Bryony Caswell

Second Supervisor Cath Waller

Additional Supervisor Magnus Johnson

Level	MRes
Student	Clare Collins
Status	Complete
Part Time	Yes
Years	2019 - 2023
Project Title	Analysing microplastics in Antarctic fishes from the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area in the Southern Ocean
Project Description	Understanding microplastic uptake in fish is of global importance for environmental pollution monitoring of ecosystems as well as understanding the potential ecological implications, human health risk and global economy impacts of plastics within commercially fished species. Much of the research in fish so far has focussed on areas of high human population or industry, but understanding the occurrence of microplastics pollution in more remote areas is vital for defining the scale of the problem and understanding organism uptake at lower pollution levels. In this study, fish caught in 2017 as part of a monitoring survey from the remote Marine Protected Area around South Georgia were sampled for ingestion of plastics. Differences in plastic types and concentrations were determined between locations around the island and across a generalist feeder and a specialist feeder. Fish guts were digested with a commonly used method, 2M potassium hydroxide to isolate suspected plastics using microscopy. Contamination was controlled and monitored throughout all steps with strict QC followed. All potential microplastics were chemically characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Microplastics particles were found across all locations and observed in the guts of both generalist and specialist feeders. Most of the particles were fragments (87.5%) and almost half (40.6%) were a composite material rather than pure plastic polymer. The findings provide much needed evidence on microplastics ingestion by fish in a remote Marine Protected Area. This information will contribute to baseline figures for monitoring future microplastics pollution in this important ecosystem. Keywords: plastics, microplastics, composites, marine, ecosystems, pollution, conservation, Antarctic, polar, fishes, ingestion
Awarding Institution	University of Hull
Director of Studies	Bryony Caswell
Second Supervisor	Cath Waller
Additional Supervisor	Magnus Johnson