# Marimo for monitoring and filtering of aquatic environments

## TL;DR

Marimo, a type of algae, can capture particles and microorganisms in water, offering a sustainable way to monitor and filter aquatic environments.

## Contribution

A novel non-destructive method for extracting and analyzing materials trapped in Marimo is introduced.

## Key findings

- Marimo can capture microplastics, sediments, and indicator species from water.
- A prototype filtration system using Marimo reduced microbial contaminants in recirculating water.
- Marimo offers a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for water monitoring and remediation.

## Abstract

Aegagropila linnaei (commonly known as “Marimo”) forms dense spheres of intertwined algae filaments capable of capturing and retaining a wide range of particles and microorganisms (up to 2 mm in length) from freshwater environments. This study explores the potential of Marimo as a sustainable tool for environmental monitoring and water filtration. We present a novel, non-destructive method for extracting entrapped materials (including microplastics, sediments, and indicator species) and evaluate various analytical techniques for characterising the extracted content. A prototype Marimo-based filtration system was developed, demonstrating significant reductions in microbial contaminants within a recirculating water system. These findings highlight the advantages of using Marimo as a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for long-term aquatic ecosystem monitoring and remediation.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-025-37259-6.