Beach Debris in Curaçao

Debrot, Adolphe O.; Tiel, Aubrey B; Bradshaw, J. E.

doi:10.1016/s0025-326x(99)00043-0

Cited by 123 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Median levels recorded (score 4) correspond to 1000 to 10 000 items per terrestrial portion of a site inspection quadrat, i.e. 500 m (along the (Debrot et al, 1999). Even on pristine undeveloped beaches near to polluted coastal bays, quantities of rubbish can be substantial; in the case of Brazil at concentrations of 9.1 items m À1 (Santos et al, 2008).…”

Section: Interpretation Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decadal changes (1996–2006) in coastal ecosystems of the Chagos archipelago determined from rapid assessment

Price

Harris

2009

Aquatic Conservation

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ABSTRACT1. The atolls and islands comprising Chagos are a biodiversity hotspot of global conservation significance in a remote part of the central Indian Ocean.2. This study examines the condition of the archipelago's coastal ecosystems by rapid environmental assessment at 21 sites/islands, which were also investigated a decade earlier using the same methodology. Major changes in ecosystem structure and environmental disturbance were determined.3. Coral fish abundance was significantly lower in 2006 than 1996. Decrease in the physical structural complexity of the reefs, as a result of coral bleaching and mortality induced by the 1998 warming event, may have been a contributing factor.4. Evidence of collecting/fishing was significantly greater in 2006 than 1996. This is attributed mainly to an illegal fishery for holothurians (sea cucumbers), which has expanded over recent years and now exerts substantial pressure on the resource. The significant decline observed in beach wood, a readily accessible fuel for fishing camps, is consistent with this.5. Solid waste on islands was high (median 2 to 20 items m À1 beach) in both 1996 and 2006. Potentially harmful biological impacts, determined from other studies, include entanglement, toxic effects and provision of transport for invasives or other 'hitchhiker' species.6. Significantly higher bird abundances were recorded in protected areas than 'unprotected' areas, attributed mainly to absence of predation by rats.7. Rapid assessment augments more comprehensive ecosystem investigations. It provides a valuable snapshot of environmental conditions based upon a broad suite of features (ecosystems and disturbances) determined, concurrently, within the same site inspection quadrats and using the same scale of assessment.

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Section: Interpretation Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decadal changes (1996–2006) in coastal ecosystems of the Chagos archipelago determined from rapid assessment

Price

Harris

2009

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Environmental factors-particularly wind forcing-have been reported to be of major importance in regulating litter abundance in previous studies on islands (e.g. Corbin et al, 1993;Debrot et al, 1999;Orfila et al, 2005) and explain both the differences in litter amounts observed on nearby beaches and the accumulation in certain beach sectors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…As in other studies, debris concentrations were expressed as integrated values per unit of beach front (e.g. Jones, 1995;Willoughby et al, 1997;Debrot et al, 1999). This notation was selected as most suitable for intercomparison purposes since litter was generally found unevenly distributed across the beach (mostly stranded and/or accumulated by wave action in the waterline).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origin and abundance of beach debris in the Balearic Islands

Martinez-Ribes¹,

Basterretxea²,

Palmer³

et al. 2007

Sci. Mar.

124

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, which is comparable to the results of other studies in the Mediterranean. Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis and redundancy analysis) confirmed strong similarities between islands and a statistically significant seasonal evolution of litter composition and abundance. In summer (the high tourist season), debris contamination expressed as item abundance was double that in the low season and showed a heterogeneous nature associated with beach use. Cigarette butts were the most abundant item, accounting for up to 46% of the objects observed in the high tourist season. In contrast, plastics related to personal hygiene/medical items were predominant in wintertime (67%) and natural wood was the most important debris by weight (75%). In both seasons, litter characteristics suggested a strong relationship with local land-based origins. While beach users were the main source of summer debris, low tourist season litter was primarily attributed to drainage and outfall systems.Keywords: Balearic Islands, beach, debris, litter, Mediterranean Sea, tourism. RESUMEN: ORIGEN Y ABUNDANCIA DE RESIDUOS EN PLAYAS DE LAS ISLAS BALEARES. -En un estudio realizado durante el año 2005 se analizó la abundancia, naturaleza y posibles orígenes de los residuos presentes en 32 playas de las Islas Baleares (mar Mediterráneo). La abundancia media de objetos en verano fue de aproximadamente 36 objetos por metro lineal, con un peso correspondiente de 32±25 g por metro lineal, lo cual es comparable a otros estudios en el Mediterráneo. El estudio mediante análisis multivariantes (Análisis de Componentes Principales y Análisis de Redundancia) confirma importantes similitudes entre islas, además de una evolución estacional estadísticamente significante en la composición y abundancia de los residuos. La contaminación durante el verano, expresada en términos de abundancia de objetos en la playa, duplica el valor registrado en invierno. Además, los objetos hallados durante esta época son de naturaleza heterogénea lo que se asocia con los vertidos realizados por los usuarios de las playas. De lo recogido en verano, las colillas son el residuo más abundante, alcanzando un 46% de los objetos observados. Por el contrario, los plásticos, y en particular los relacionados con el aseo personal y las medicinas son el tipo de objeto más común en invierno (67%) y las maderas representan el tipo de residuo más abundante en cuanto a peso (75%). En ambas estaciones, los residuos encontrados muestran una estrecha relación con fuentes de tipo local; mientras que los usuarios de las playas son el mayor foco de residuos en el verano, en invierno éstos se asocian con los sistemas de alcantarillado y emisarios.

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“…Abundance or composition of litter often varies even among different parts of an individual beach (Claereboudt 2004) with higher amounts found frequently at high-tide or storm-level lines (Oigman-Pszczol and Creed 2007). Because of this and beach topography, patchiness is a common distribution pattern on beaches, especially for smaller and lighter items that are more easily dispersed or buried (Debrot et al 1999).…”

Section: Beachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Distribution, Composition and Abundance of Marine Litter

Galgani

Hanke

Maes

2015

Marine Anthropogenic Litter

442

376

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Marine debris is commonly observed everywhere in the oceans. Litter enters the seas from both land-based sources, from ships and other installations at sea, from point and diffuse sources, and can travel long distances before being stranded. Plastics typically constitute the most important part of marine litter sometimes accounting for up to 100 % of floating litter. On beaches, most studies have demonstrated densities in the 1 item m −2 range except for very high concentrations because of local conditions, after typhoons or flooding events. Floating marine debris ranges from 0 to beyond 600 items km −2 . On the sea bed, the abundance of plastic debris is very dependent on location, with densities ranging from 0 to >7700 items km −2 , mainly in coastal areas. Recent studies have demonstrated that pollution of microplastics, particles <5 mm, has spread at the surface of oceans, in the water column and in sediments, even in the deep sea. Concentrations at the water surface ranged from thousands to hundred thousands of particles km −2 . Fluxes vary widely with factors such as proximity of urban activities, shore and coastal uses, wind and ocean currents. These enable the presence of accumulation areas in oceanic convergence zones and on the seafloor, notably in coastal canyons. Temporal trends are not clear with evidences for increases, decreases or without changes, depending on locations and environmental conditions. In terms of distribution and quantities, proper global estimations based on standardized approaches are still needed before considering efficient management and reduction measures.

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Beach Debris in Curaçao

Cited by 123 publications

References 5 publications

Decadal changes (1996–2006) in coastal ecosystems of the Chagos archipelago determined from rapid assessment

Decadal changes (1996–2006) in coastal ecosystems of the Chagos archipelago determined from rapid assessment

Origin and abundance of beach debris in the Balearic Islands

Global Distribution, Composition and Abundance of Marine Litter

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