Drifting plastic debris as a potential vector for dispersing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species

Masó, Mercedes; Garcés, Esther; Pagès, Francesc; Camp, Jordi

doi:10.3989/scimar.2003.67n1107

Cited by 275 publications

(166 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In this context, it was also hypothesized, that microplastics may function as a vector for dispersion of invasive species including toxic algae but also pathogenic organisms (Masó et al, 2003;Zettler et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The drift of potentially harmful algae species, barnacles and bryozoans on plastic debris (Barnes, 2002;Masó et al, 2003) is already well documented. Our results fuel the evidence for potentially pathogenic bacteria being dispersed on microplastic particles by wind or currents.…”

Section: Vibrio Hitchhikersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also Lobelle and Cunliffe (2011) proved biofilm formation on plastics after 1 week of incubation in seawater via quantitative biofilm assays. Prior studies evidenced that even harmful al gal species were detected in biofilms on plastic debris (Masó et al, 2003). Being highly heterogeneous environments, biofilms offer important ecological advantages such as the accumulation of nutrients, as protective barrier, for mechanical stability (Flemming, 2002) or the formation of micro-consortia of different species that orchestrate the degradation of complex substrates (Wimpenny, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles

Kirstein

Kirmizi

Wichels

et al. 2016

Marine Environmental Research

733

372

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The taxonomic composition of biofilms on marine microplastics is widely unknown. Recent sequencing results indicate that potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. might be present on floating microplastics. Hence, these particles might function as vectors for the dispersal of pathogens. Microplastics and water samples collected in the North and Baltic Sea were subjected to selective enrichment for pathogenic Vibrio species. Bacterial colonies were isolated from CHROMagar™Vibrio and assigned to Vibrio spp. on the species level by MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/IonisationTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry). Respective polymers were identified by ATR FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform -Infrared Spectroscopy). We discovered potentially pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus on a number of microplastic particles, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene from North/Baltic Sea. This study confirms the indicated occurrence of potentially pathogenic bacteria on marine microplastics and highlights the urgent need for detailed biogeographical analyses of marine microplastics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vibrio Hitchhikersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles

Kirstein

Kirmizi

Wichels

et al. 2016

Marine Environmental Research

733

372

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“…From what started as a perceived aesthetic problem of plastics littering towns, countryside, shores and even far out into the ocean soon emerged as causing the choking and entanglement of wildlife. The number of potentially harmful implications of plastic debris that have been identified has escalated and it is now realized that these items may also transport persistent organic pollutants (POPs; Mato et al 2001), non-indigenous species to new locations (Barnes 2002) and distribute algae associated with red tides (Masó et al 2003). Reports of accumulation of plastics spread rapidly in terms of the taxa influenced, geography and bathymetry of affected sites and countries beginning monitoring and beach clean-up operations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments

Barnes

Galgani

Thompson

et al. 2009

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

4,879

2,383

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One of the most ubiquitous and long-lasting recent changes to the surface of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics. Within just a few decades since mass production of plastic products commenced in the 1950s, plastic debris has accumulated in terrestrial environments, in the open ocean, on shorelines of even the most remote islands and in the deep sea. Annual clean-up operations, costing millions of pounds sterling, are now organized in many countries and on every continent. Here we document global plastics production and the accumulation of plastic waste. While plastics typically constitute approximately 10 per cent of discarded waste, they represent a much greater proportion of the debris accumulating on shorelines.Mega-and macro-plastics have accumulated in the highest densities in the Northern Hemisphere, adjacent to urban centres, in enclosed seas and at water convergences (fronts). We report lower densities on remote island shores, on the continental shelf seabed and the lowest densities (but still a documented presence) in the deep sea and Southern Ocean. The longevity of plastic is estimated to be hundreds to thousands of years, but is likely to be far longer in deep sea and non-surface polar environments. Plastic debris poses considerable threat by choking and starving wildlife, distributing non-native and potentially harmful organisms, absorbing toxic chemicals and degrading to micro-plastics that may subsequently be ingested. Well-established annual surveys on coasts and at sea have shown that trends in mega-and macro-plastic accumulation rates are no longer uniformly increasing: rather stable, increasing and decreasing trends have all been reported. The average size of plastic particles in the environment seems to be decreasing, and the abundance and global distribution of micro-plastic fragments have increased over the last few decades. However, the environmental consequences of such microscopic debris are still poorly understood.

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“…Problems due to plastics in the marine environment have been summarized by COLE et al (2011). In addition to economic loss and chemical and physical pollution due to plastics, through rafting these plastics exert an important influence on coastal biodiversity (MASÓ et al, 2003;THIEL;GUTOW, 2005). Plastic fragments, regardless of origin, are ingested by marine animals, buried in sediments (COSTA et al, 2011) or washed up on beaches (ARAÚJO; COSTA, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artisanal fishing net float loss and a proposal for a float design solution

Chaves

Silveira

2016

Braz. j. oceanogr.

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Plastic floats from fishing nets are commonly found washed up on beaches in southern Brazil. They are usually broken and show signs of having been repaired. Characteristics of floats and interviews with fishermen suggest two main causes of float loss. First, collisions between active gear, bottom trawl nets for shrimp, and passive gear, drift nets for fish, destroy nets and release fragments of them, including floats. Second, the difficulty with which floats are inserted on the float rope of the nets when they are used near the surface. Floats are inserted to replace damaged or lost floats, or they may be removed if it is desired that the nets be used in deeper waters. Floats may thus be poorly fixed to the cables and lost. Here a new float design that offers greater safety in use and for the replacement of floats is described and tested.

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Drifting plastic debris as a potential vector for dispersing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species

Cited by 275 publications

References 13 publications

Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles

Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles

Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments

Artisanal fishing net float loss and a proposal for a float design solution

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