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Impacts of Marine Plastic Pollution on Seagrass Meadows and Ecosystem Services in Southeast Asia
Summary
Researchers assessed how marine plastic pollution affects seagrass meadows in Southeast Asia, a region where seagrass-derived ecosystem services are valued at over $100 billion annually. They found that plastics harm seagrass through spatial competition, chemical leaching, and reduced photosynthesis and growth. A risk assessment indicated that current microplastic concentrations already pose a high risk of decline to these critical marine habitats.
Seagrass meadows provide ecosystem services (ES) that are critical for humanity. Southeast Asia (SEA) is a hotspot of seagrass diversity, and the region’s seagrass-derived ES have been valued at over $100 billion annually; however, the health and extent of seagrass meadows are in decline. Marine plastic pollution (MPP) is an escalating problem and a concern for vulnerable marine habitats such as seagrass meadows. To understand the impacts that MPP has on seagrass ecosystems and their provision of ES, we conducted a mixed methodology study that involved a systematic search of the literature and the synthesis of the results with a risk assessment. The results indicated that MPP negatively impacts seagrass through factors such as spatial competition, chemical leaching, and reduced rates of photosynthesis and rhizome growth. This can lead to a reduction in seagrass biomass, triggering the degradation of all seagrass-derived ES. A risk assessment of the microplastic impact results indicated that seagrass-derived ES are at high risk of decline from the current microplastic concentrations, which in turn indicates a potential threat to the well-being of those dependent on them.