We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
From coastal to oceanic micro-meso and macroplastics in the SE Bay of Biscay
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper examined microplastic deposition rates in urban and peri-urban environments using passive fallout collectors deployed over multiple seasons. Results showed that urban areas received significantly higher microplastic fallout than suburban and rural reference sites, with fiber deposition rates correlating with traffic density and building density, suggesting resuspension of road and building-associated textiles as a primary atmospheric source.
Several numerical models predict that the SE Bay of Biscay is a critical area for oceanic litter accumulation because of its geography and metocean conditions; and yet, the knowledge of marine litter is limited in the region. This has led local authorities to seek scientific ad- vice to manage this new challenge. Here we show the results of 3 oceanographic surveys that cover different oceanic regions of the Bay of Biscay: BIOMAN (May 2017), ETOILE (August 2017) and LEMA (Sept-Nov 2017 and May-Sept 2018), where 210 water surface samples were taken with a 500 im mesh-size neuston net. Results map the spatio-temporal distribution of micro-mesoplastic abundance, from coastal to oceanic waters. Micro-mesoplastic abundance in general follows an expected gradient from coastal to oceanic waters, but also shows high variabil- ity within the same water mass. Some coastal water samples contained high abundance levels with almost 1500·103 items km-2 in coastal waters in contrast to low levels (16·103 items km-2) in deeper waters, while no plastic was found in others. Such variability highlights the importance of understanding how the meso and small-scale ocean features (e.g. eddies, fronts), which are frequent on coastal waters, may influence and help to predict micro-mesoplastic accumulation hotspots for management purposes. Micro-mesoplastic abundance and characterisation results are completed with macro-litter mapping obtained for the same region by: (i) fishing vessels devoted to collect marine litter from coastal waters (May- September 2018); and (ii) visual detection of macro-litter (JUVENA and BIOMAN ecosystemic surveys). We anticipate that our results have started to provide data of marine litter abundance and sources, and that they are currently being used as a baseline to work with relevant authorities, sectors and industries (such as the fishing sector) regarding their responsibility in the prevention and the development of management strategies to deal with marine litter locally.
More Papers Like This
The coastal waters of the south-east Bay of Biscay a dead-end for neustonic plastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected neustonic surface samples along the coastal waters of the south-east Bay of Biscay from 2017 to 2020, finding an average plastic abundance of 739,395 items/km2 with microplastics comprising 93% of items, and demonstrating that French coastal waters had five times higher plastic concentrations than Spanish coasts, consistent with numerical model predictions of this region as a convergence zone.
Citizen science initiatives and outcomes in plastic pollution monitoring and control in the southern Bay of Biscay.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compiled seven years of citizen science marine litter data from the southern Bay of Biscay across beaches, floating zones, and seafloor surveys, finding plastics comprised 77–98% of recorded items and that small plastic pieces (0–2.5 cm) were the single most abundant object type across all three environments.
An evaluation of surface micro- and mesoplastic pollution in pelagic ecosystems of the Western Mediterranean Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that micro- and mesoplastic debris were widely and uniformly distributed across the Western Mediterranean Sea, with average surface concentrations of approximately 130,000 microplastic particles per km2 and 5,700 mesoplastic particles per km2. Fragment morphology and polymer composition analysis indicated a predominantly land-based origin for the debris.
Microplastics in the open ocean at different depths in the Canary region: Origin, fate, and composition
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics at multiple depths in the open ocean of the Canary region, examining how mesoscale oceanographic structures such as eddies, upwelling filaments, and wind-driven advection distribute particles beyond the surface and through the water column. They found microplastics at all sampled depths with polymer composition and abundance varying by depth, indicating that subsurface transport processes significantly affect microplastic fate in the open ocean.
The seasonal cycle of micro and meso-plastics in surface waters in a coastal environment (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tracked micro- and mesoplastics in a coastal bay in northwestern Spain over a full year, finding plastic pollution in all seasons. Concentration varied with weather and oceanographic conditions, highlighting the dynamic nature of coastal plastic contamination.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.