Microplastics in the Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean has the lowest densities of floating macroplastic litter in the world. It was thought that the region was relatively free of microplastic contamination. However, recent studies and citizen science projects have reported microplastics in deep-sea and shallow sediments and surface w...
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ftunivhullir:oai:hull-repository.worktribe.com:831926 2024-09-15T18:36:58+00:00 Microplastics in the Southern Ocean Waller, Catherine Griffiths, Huw J. Waluda, Claire M. Thorpe, Sally E. Loaiza, Iván Moreno, Bernabé Pacherres, Cesar O. Ryan, Peter Suaria, Giuseppe Isobe, Atsuhiko Hughes, Kevin A. 2018-05-16 https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/831926 https://doi.org/10.18124/D4JK8V English eng https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/831926 doi:https://doi.org/10.18124/D4JK8V doi:10.18124/D4JK8V Chemical pollution Marine debris Microbes Microfibres Marine litter Digital Artefact 2018 ftunivhullir https://doi.org/10.18124/D4JK8V 2024-07-22T14:05:21Z The Southern Ocean has the lowest densities of floating macroplastic litter in the world. It was thought that the region was relatively free of microplastic contamination. However, recent studies and citizen science projects have reported microplastics in deep-sea and shallow sediments and surface waters. Microplastics have been shown, in both laboratory experiments and field-based studies elsewhere in the world, to negatively impact a range of marine species including pelagic and benthic organisms. After reviewing available information on microplastics (including macroplastics as a source of microplastics) in the Southern Ocean, we present estimated microplastic concentrations, and identify potential sources and routes of transmission into the region. Estimates suggest that the amounts of microplastic pollution released into the region from ships and scientific research stations are likely to be negligible at the scale of the Southern Ocean, but may be significant on a local scale. Furthermore, predictions of microplastic concentrations from local sources are several orders of magnitude lower than levels reported in published sampling surveys. Sea surface transfer from lower latitudes is a likely contributor to Southern Ocean plastic concentrations. Other/Unknown Material Southern Ocean University of Hull: Repository@Hull |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Hull: Repository@Hull |
op_collection_id |
ftunivhullir |
language |
English |
topic |
Chemical pollution Marine debris Microbes Microfibres Marine litter |
spellingShingle |
Chemical pollution Marine debris Microbes Microfibres Marine litter Waller, Catherine Griffiths, Huw J. Waluda, Claire M. Thorpe, Sally E. Loaiza, Iván Moreno, Bernabé Pacherres, Cesar O. Ryan, Peter Suaria, Giuseppe Isobe, Atsuhiko Hughes, Kevin A. Microplastics in the Southern Ocean |
topic_facet |
Chemical pollution Marine debris Microbes Microfibres Marine litter |
description |
The Southern Ocean has the lowest densities of floating macroplastic litter in the world. It was thought that the region was relatively free of microplastic contamination. However, recent studies and citizen science projects have reported microplastics in deep-sea and shallow sediments and surface waters. Microplastics have been shown, in both laboratory experiments and field-based studies elsewhere in the world, to negatively impact a range of marine species including pelagic and benthic organisms. After reviewing available information on microplastics (including macroplastics as a source of microplastics) in the Southern Ocean, we present estimated microplastic concentrations, and identify potential sources and routes of transmission into the region. Estimates suggest that the amounts of microplastic pollution released into the region from ships and scientific research stations are likely to be negligible at the scale of the Southern Ocean, but may be significant on a local scale. Furthermore, predictions of microplastic concentrations from local sources are several orders of magnitude lower than levels reported in published sampling surveys. Sea surface transfer from lower latitudes is a likely contributor to Southern Ocean plastic concentrations. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Waller, Catherine Griffiths, Huw J. Waluda, Claire M. Thorpe, Sally E. Loaiza, Iván Moreno, Bernabé Pacherres, Cesar O. Ryan, Peter Suaria, Giuseppe Isobe, Atsuhiko Hughes, Kevin A. |
author_facet |
Waller, Catherine Griffiths, Huw J. Waluda, Claire M. Thorpe, Sally E. Loaiza, Iván Moreno, Bernabé Pacherres, Cesar O. Ryan, Peter Suaria, Giuseppe Isobe, Atsuhiko Hughes, Kevin A. |
author_sort |
Waller, Catherine |
title |
Microplastics in the Southern Ocean |
title_short |
Microplastics in the Southern Ocean |
title_full |
Microplastics in the Southern Ocean |
title_fullStr |
Microplastics in the Southern Ocean |
title_full_unstemmed |
Microplastics in the Southern Ocean |
title_sort |
microplastics in the southern ocean |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/831926 https://doi.org/10.18124/D4JK8V |
genre |
Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Southern Ocean |
op_relation |
https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/831926 doi:https://doi.org/10.18124/D4JK8V doi:10.18124/D4JK8V |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.18124/D4JK8V |
_version_ |
1810480779425218560 |