We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impact of mangrove forest structure and landscape on macroplastics capture
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed macroplastic accumulation across seven mangrove forests in the Philippines, finding 1.1 items per square meter on average with the highest abundance at landward zones and near river mouths. Mangrove biomass and root structure were positively correlated with plastic capture, confirming that mangrove structural complexity enhances their ability to trap land-derived plastic litter.
Complex networks of above-ground roots and trunks make mangrove forests trap plastic litter. We tested how macroplastics relate to tree biomass, root abundance, mangrove geomorphology and river mouth proximity, surveying landward and seaward margins of seven forests in the Philippines, a global hotspot for marine plastic pollution. Macroplastics were abundant (mean ± s.e.: 1.1 ± 0.22 items m-2; range: 0.05 ± 0.05 to 3.79 ± 1.91), greatest at the landward zone (mean ± s.e.: 1.60 ± 0.41 m-2) and dominated by land-derived items (sachets, bags). Plastic abundance and weight increased with proximity to river mouths, with root abundance predicting plastic litter surface area (i.e., the cumulative sum of all the surface areas of each plastic element per plot). The study confirms rivers are a major pathway for marine plastic pollution, with mangrove roots are the biological attribute that regulate litter retention. The results suggest land-based waste management that prevent plastics entering rivers will reduce marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia.
More Papers Like This
Are mangrove ecosystems plastic accumulation zones?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers monitored macroplastic and microplastic pollution across nine mangrove sites on Cebu Island, Philippines, for over a year using paired removal and reference plots, finding that mangrove ecosystems function as significant plastic accumulation zones with differing dynamics between landward and seaward zones.
Distribution and retention of microplastics in plantation mangrove forest sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and retention of microplastics in sediments of plantation mangrove forests, finding that mangrove plantations act as effective sinks for microplastics transported by ocean tides, with particle size and shape influencing where plastics accumulate within the forest structure.
Anthropogenic marine debris and its dynamics across peri-urban and urban mangroves on Penang Island, Malaysia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tracked the accumulation of marine debris in urban and semi-urban mangroves on Penang Island, Malaysia, finding that debris abundance varied with season, tidal patterns, and proximity to urban areas. Mangroves act as debris traps, concentrating plastic waste including microplastics that filter through their root systems.
Quantification and characterization of macroplastics present in the mangrove ecosystem of SUCITAPPLAS, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found hundreds of pieces of plastic trash—mostly bottles, bags, and plastic film—tangled in mangrove forests in the Philippines, showing these coastal ecosystems act like nets that trap our plastic waste. This matters because mangroves are nurseries for fish and seafood we eat, and as trapped plastic breaks down over time, it can turn into microplastics that enter the food chain and, eventually, our bodies—making better local trash management an important step for protecting both these ecosystems and human health.
Mangroves as unique but understudied traps for anthropogenic marine debris: A review of present information and the way forward
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined mangroves as understudied traps for anthropogenic marine debris, noting that 18 of the top 20 plastic-emitting rivers are associated with mangrove coastlines. Mangroves efficiently accumulate debris through their dense root structures, yet are rarely included in coastal plastic monitoring programs.
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.