0
Article Tier 2 Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Remediation Sign in to save

Plastic Pollution and Its Impact on Biodiversity

Practice, progress, and proficiency in sustainability 2024 1 citation

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines the relationship between plastic pollution and biodiversity loss, analyzing how microplastics degrade natural habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and threaten species survival, drawing on scientific literature to assess the sources, forms, and ecological impacts of plastic contamination across terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Biodiversity loss is one of the most critical environmental problems nowadays. Several natural and anthropogenic causes are known to trigger it. Environmental pollution, including land degradation, has been long considered a significant contributor to biodiversity loss. However, the role of plastic pollution, especially microplastics, in biodiversity loss has been recognised relatively recently. This chapter delves into the complex relationship between biodiversity and plastic pollution, assessing how plastic degrades natural habitats, distorts the ecosystem, and threatens the survival of countless species, eventually disrupting the ecosystem's delicate balance. Through a review of scientific literature, the chapter probes the sources of plastic pollution, its various forms and the impacts of plastic on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It examines how plastic waste ingestion, entanglement, and chemical contamination affect individual species, populations, and ecological communities. Lastly, the chapter discusses measures to manage plastic pollution and safeguard biodiversity.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Microplastics and biodiversity: A comprehensive analysis of their ecological impact

AI summary Read the abstract

This comprehensive analysis examined the ecological impacts of microplastics on biodiversity, reviewing evidence of harm to species across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The review found widespread negative effects on reproduction, behavior, and survival that threaten biodiversity at multiple levels.

Article Tier 2

The Detrimental Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Wildlife

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines the harmful effects of plastic pollution on wildlife across marine, coastal, and terrestrial habitats, including entanglement, ingestion, and chemical exposure. Researchers found that over 2,000 species are affected by plastic debris, with microplastics presenting a particular concern because they can accumulate toxic chemicals and enter food chains. The study calls for stronger policy measures and public awareness to reduce plastic waste and protect biodiversity.

Article Tier 2

Pollution and Its Effects on Biodiversity

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines how air, water, soil, and plastic pollution interact synergistically to threaten global biodiversity, covering mechanisms from direct tissue damage and reproductive disruption to trophic-level disruption and habitat degradation across ecosystems.

Article Tier 2

Pollution and Its Effects on Biodiversity

AI summary Read the abstract

This review examines how air, water, soil, and plastic pollution interact synergistically to threaten global biodiversity, covering mechanisms from direct tissue damage and reproductive disruption to trophic-level disruption and habitat degradation across ecosystems.

Article Tier 2

Plastic Pollution and Ecosystem Health: Sources, Pathways, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers synthesized current knowledge on plastic pollution across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, tracing source pathways from industrial and domestic activities through fragmentation into microplastics and nanoplastics, and mapping impacts including trophic transfer, chemical toxicity, and biodiversity loss.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper