Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula
Although marine plastic pollution has been the focus of several studies, there are still many gaps in our understanding of the concentrations, characteristics and impacts of plastics in the oceans. This study aimed to quantify and characterize plastic debris in oceanic surface waters of the Antarcti...
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ftunivutrecht:oai:dspace.library.uu.nl:1874/379562 2023-07-23T04:15:36+02:00 Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula Lacerda, Ana L. d F. Rodrigues, Lucas dos S. van Sebille, Erik Rodrigues, Fabio L. Ribeiro, Lourenco Secchi, Eduardo R. Kessler, Felipe Proietti, Maira C. Sub Physical Oceanography Marine and Atmospheric Research 2019-03-08 image/pdf https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/379562 en eng 2045-2322 https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/379562 info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess Article 2019 ftunivutrecht 2023-07-02T02:45:08Z Although marine plastic pollution has been the focus of several studies, there are still many gaps in our understanding of the concentrations, characteristics and impacts of plastics in the oceans. This study aimed to quantify and characterize plastic debris in oceanic surface waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. Sampling was done through surface trawls, and mean debris concentration was estimated at 1,794 items.km−2 with an average weight of 27.8 g.km−2. No statistical difference was found between the amount of mesoplastics (46%) and microplastics (54%). We found hard and flexible fragments, spheres and lines, in nine colors, composed mostly of polyurethane, polyamide, and polyethylene. An oceanographic dispersal model showed that, for at least seven years, sampled plastics likely did not originate from latitudes lower than 58°S. Analysis of epiplastic community diversity revealed bacteria, microalgae, and invertebrate groups adhered to debris. Paint fragments were present at all sampling stations and were approximately 30 times more abundant than plastics. Although paint particles were not included in plastic concentration estimates, we highlight that they could have similar impacts as marine plastics. We call for urgent action to avoid and mitigate plastic and paint fragment inputs to the Southern Ocean. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Southern Ocean Utrecht University Repository Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
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Open Polar |
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Utrecht University Repository |
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ftunivutrecht |
language |
English |
description |
Although marine plastic pollution has been the focus of several studies, there are still many gaps in our understanding of the concentrations, characteristics and impacts of plastics in the oceans. This study aimed to quantify and characterize plastic debris in oceanic surface waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. Sampling was done through surface trawls, and mean debris concentration was estimated at 1,794 items.km−2 with an average weight of 27.8 g.km−2. No statistical difference was found between the amount of mesoplastics (46%) and microplastics (54%). We found hard and flexible fragments, spheres and lines, in nine colors, composed mostly of polyurethane, polyamide, and polyethylene. An oceanographic dispersal model showed that, for at least seven years, sampled plastics likely did not originate from latitudes lower than 58°S. Analysis of epiplastic community diversity revealed bacteria, microalgae, and invertebrate groups adhered to debris. Paint fragments were present at all sampling stations and were approximately 30 times more abundant than plastics. Although paint particles were not included in plastic concentration estimates, we highlight that they could have similar impacts as marine plastics. We call for urgent action to avoid and mitigate plastic and paint fragment inputs to the Southern Ocean. |
author2 |
Sub Physical Oceanography Marine and Atmospheric Research |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lacerda, Ana L. d F. Rodrigues, Lucas dos S. van Sebille, Erik Rodrigues, Fabio L. Ribeiro, Lourenco Secchi, Eduardo R. Kessler, Felipe Proietti, Maira C. |
spellingShingle |
Lacerda, Ana L. d F. Rodrigues, Lucas dos S. van Sebille, Erik Rodrigues, Fabio L. Ribeiro, Lourenco Secchi, Eduardo R. Kessler, Felipe Proietti, Maira C. Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula |
author_facet |
Lacerda, Ana L. d F. Rodrigues, Lucas dos S. van Sebille, Erik Rodrigues, Fabio L. Ribeiro, Lourenco Secchi, Eduardo R. Kessler, Felipe Proietti, Maira C. |
author_sort |
Lacerda, Ana L. d F. |
title |
Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_short |
Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full |
Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_fullStr |
Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed |
Plastics in sea surface waters around the Antarctic Peninsula |
title_sort |
plastics in sea surface waters around the antarctic peninsula |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/379562 |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Southern Ocean |
op_relation |
2045-2322 https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/379562 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
_version_ |
1772176477807181824 |