Plastic pollution of four understudied marine ecosystems: a review of mangroves, seagrass meadows, the Arctic Ocean and the deep seafloor

Abstract

Plastic pollution is now a worldwide phenomenon affecting all marine ecosystems, but some ecosystems and regions remain understudied. Here, we review the presence and impacts of macroplastics and microplastics for four such ecosystems: mangroves, seagrass meadows, the Arctic Ocean and the deep seafloor. Plastic production has grown steadily, and thus the impact on species and ecosystems has increased, too. The accumulated evidence also indicates that plastic pollution is an additional and increasing stressor to these already ecosystems and many of the species living in them. However, laboratory or field studies, which provide strong correlational or experimental evidence of ecological harm due to plastic pollution remain scarce or absent for these ecosystems. Based on these findings, we give some research recommendations for the future.

Identifying Potential High-Risk Zones for Land-Derived Plastic Litter to Marine Megafauna and Key Habitats within the North Atlantic

“…Mangroves contain more plastic litter than adjacent habitats such as seagrass beds, tidal flats and beaches (Martin et al, 2020;Ouyang et al, 2022), with plastic increasing with tree density (Hastuti et al, 2014;Martin et al, 2020). The structural complexity of their branches and aerial root system (pneumatophores) makes them highly susceptible to plastic entanglement and smothering (Walther and Bergmann, 2022), and plastics can be retained in mangroves for years (Ivar do Sul et al, 2014).…”

Adsorption in Action: Molecular Dynamics as a Tool to Study Adsorption at the Surface of Fine Plastic Particles in Aquatic Environments

“…It is now undeniable that pollution of the environment by fine plastic particles (FPPs) presents itself as one of the great global challenges facing modern society. − Microplastics (MPs) are typically defined as small particles, generally <5 mm in size, made of common synthetic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) . MPs are now highly ubiquitous in nature and have been found across virtually all marine ecosystems . Coupled with their now widespread distribution, microplastics have been linked with a range of negative consequences such as the adsorption (and consequent release) of pollutants and their uptake by marine organisms .…”

“… 4 MPs are now highly ubiquitous in nature and have been found across virtually all marine ecosystems. 5 Coupled with their now widespread distribution, microplastics have been linked with a range of negative consequences such as the adsorption (and consequent release) of pollutants and their uptake by marine organisms. 6 Nanoplastics (NPs) are now also a growing concern as MP particles can degrade even further into smaller FPPs.…”

Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants

“…It has been postulated that this new plastic formation could be a vector for persistent organic pollutants released by the plastic-burning process 9 , 15 , 19 . On tropical beaches, this would add to the anthropogenic stress on tropical coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves 20 – 25 , which are already under pressure from other harmful anthropogenic impacts. However, data on organic chemical contaminants in plastiglomerate and other similar forms of plastic pollution are hitherto missing.…”