Distribution of Floating Debris in the North Pacific Ocean: Sighting Surveys 1986–1991

Matsumura, Satsuki; Nasu, Keiichi

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-8486-1_3

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…The amount of plastic recorded simultaneously with the turtle survey in the different subareas and in the different seasons was estimated as a percentage of the total litter items. The amount of plastic was then normalized by accounting for strip width, and calculated as density (D) = n / (w × l) with n = number of items observed, w = width of the observed strip, and l = length of the surveyed transect (km) (Matsumura & Nasu 1997, Thiel et al 2003, Shiomoto & Kameda 2005. The spatial distribution of plastic density was analysed using the KDE to highlight areas of plastic accumulation over the different seasons (Arcangeli et al 2018).…”

Section: Floating Marine Littermentioning

confidence: 99%

Turtles on the trash track: loggerhead turtles exposed to floating plastic in the Mediterranean Sea

Arcangeli¹,

Maffucci²,

Atzori³

et al. 2019

Endang. Species. Res.

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Loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta spend most of their life in large marine areas occupying a variety of habitats where they are exposed to different types of threats. Among these, marine litter poses a risk of entanglement or ingestion. Areas of risk exposure can be identified where the species overlap with litter accumulations, but gathering data on this highly mobile species and marine litter, especially in high sea areas, is challenging. Here we analysed 5 years of sea turtle and marine litter data collected by a network of research bodies along fixed trans-border transects in the Mediterranean Sea. Ferries were used as observation platforms to gather systematic data on a seasonal basis using standard protocols. Loggerhead turtle sightings over time and space were compared in terms of sightings per unit effort, and risk-exposure areas were assessed based on seasonal overlap of species hot spots and high-density plastic areas revealed by kernel analysis. In almost 180 000 km surveyed, 1258 sea turtles were recorded, concentrated mostly in the central Adriatic Sea and Sardinia-Sicilian channels during all seasons, and in the central Tyrrhenian Sea during spring. Plastic comprised the highest fraction of litter items detected. Several areas of higher risk exposure, both permanent and seasonal, were identified, mainly in the Adriatic Sea and during the spring−summer seasons. Records of both species and floating litter were highly variable, underlying the need for continuous long-term monitoring to develop sound conservation and management measures, especially in the identified areas of risk exposure.

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Section: Floating Marine Littermentioning

confidence: 99%

Turtles on the trash track: loggerhead turtles exposed to floating plastic in the Mediterranean Sea

Arcangeli¹,

Maffucci²,

Atzori³

et al. 2019

Endang. Species. Res.

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“…Literature on the sources and distribution of plastics indicate its worldwide predominance (Derraik 2002). Methods for assessing marine debris include ocean-based boat surveys (Matsumura and Nasu 1997;Aliani et al 2003;Thiel et al 2003;Shiomoto and Kameda 2005), beach surveys (Rees and Pond 1995;McDermid and McMullen 2004;Corcoran et al 2009), and aerial surveys (Lecke Mitchell and Mullin 1997;Pichel et al 2007). It is necessary to conduct surveys of this floating plastic pollution because it does not completely biodegrade, causes ecological harm, and travels far (Kubota and Takayama 2005;Moore 2008).…”

Section: How Do We Assess Marine Debris and Whymentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine debris in central California: Quantifying type and abundance of beach litter in Monterey Bay, CA

Rosevelt

Huertos

Garza

et al. 2013

Marine Pollution Bulletin

175

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Monitoring beach litter is essential for reducing ecological threats towards humans and wildlife. In Monterey Bay, CA information on seasonal and spatial patterns is understudied. Central California's coastal managers require reliable information on debris abundance, distribution, and type, to support policy aimed at reducing litter. We developed a survey method that allowed for trained citizen scientists to quantify the types and abundance of beach litter. Sampling occurred from July 2009-June 2010. Litter abundance ranged from 0.03 to 17.1 items m(-2). Using a mixed model approach, we found season and location have the greatest effect on litter abundance. Styrofoam, the most numerically abundant item, made up 41% of the total amount of litter. Unexpected items included fertilizer pellets. The results of this study provide a baseline on the types and abundance of litter on the central coast and have directly supported policy banning Styrofoam take out containers from local municipalities.

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“…In the open N Pacific abundances of floating wood are usually b1 item km − 2 (Matsumura and Nasu, 1997;Pichel et al, 2007).…”

Section: Floating Seaweedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-temporal distribution of floating objects in the German Bight (North Sea)

Thiel

Hinojosa

Joschko

et al. 2011

Journal of Sea Research

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Floating objects facilitate the dispersal of marine and terrestrial species but also represent a major environmental hazard in the case of anthropogenic plastic litter. They can be found throughout the world's oceans but information on their abundance and the spatio-temporal dynamics is scarce for many regions of the world. This information, however, is essential to evaluate the ecological role of floating objects. Herein, we report the results from a ship-based visual survey on the abundance and composition of flotsam in the German Bight (North Sea) during the years 2006 to 2008. The aim of this study was to identify potential sources of floating objects and to relate spatio-temporal density variations to environmental conditions. Three major flotsam categories were identified: buoyant seaweed (mainly fucoid brown algae), natural wood and anthropogenic debris. Densities of these floating objects in the German Bight were similar to those reported from other coastal regions of the world. Temporal variations in flotsam densities are probably the result of seasonal growth cycles of seaweeds and fluctuating river runoff (wood). Higher abundances were often found in areas where coastal fronts and eddies develop during calm weather conditions. Accordingly, flotsam densities were often higher in the inner German Bight than in areas farther offshore. Import of floating objects and retention times in the German Bight are influenced by wind force and direction. Our results indicate that a substantial amount of floating objects is of coastal origin or introduced into the German Bight from western source areas such as the British Channel. Rapid transport of floating objects through the German Bight is driven by strong westerly winds and likely facilitates dispersal of associated organisms and gene flow among distant populations.

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Distribution of Floating Debris in the North Pacific Ocean: Sighting Surveys 1986–1991

Cited by 27 publications

References 0 publications

Turtles on the trash track: loggerhead turtles exposed to floating plastic in the Mediterranean Sea

Turtles on the trash track: loggerhead turtles exposed to floating plastic in the Mediterranean Sea

Marine debris in central California: Quantifying type and abundance of beach litter in Monterey Bay, CA

Spatio-temporal distribution of floating objects in the German Bight (North Sea)

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