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Posidonia Spheroids Intercepting Plastic Litter: Implication for Beach Clean-Ups
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Researchers analyzed seagrass fiber balls (Posidonia spheroids) on four Mediterranean beaches and found they can trap significant quantities of plastic litter — up to 132 plastic items per kilogram of spheroid material. The study recommends that beach clean-up programs specifically target spheroid removal to prevent trapped plastics from being re-released into the sea as the plant material decomposes.
This study evaluates for the first time the plastic litter occurrence in Posidonia spheroids of four Mediterranean sandy beaches at different anthropogenic impact. A total of 80 spheroids was analyzed and 202 plastic items were found. Spheroids entangled a high number of plastic litter (132 plastic items/kg) with significant differences between beaches. Our results highlight the importance to implement the beach cleaning plan for the removal of all spheroids in order to prevent them from flaking and releasing the marine litter trapped inside them again in the environment. Spheroids should be manually removed in order to protect the banquettes. The removal should be involved all spheroids, independently from their size. This study adds data for the implementation of the monitoring program of marine litter and contributes to the development of specific management measures as well as implement Mediterranean action plans.
More Papers Like This
Posidonia Spheroids Intercepting Plastic Litter: Implications for Beach Clean-Ups
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Posidonia seagrass spheroids — natural balls of fibrous seagrass debris that wash up on Mediterranean beaches — trap significant quantities of plastic litter, averaging 2.5 items per spheroid including fibers and fragments as small as 0.1 mm. The study recommends that beach clean-up programs specifically target and remove all spheroids to prevent them from disintegrating and releasing their trapped plastic back into the sea.
Microplastic entrapment in Posidonia oceanica egagropiles: Spatial patterns from the Costa Blanca (Western Mediterranean, Spain)
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Scientists found that nearly 90% of natural fiber balls washed up on Mediterranean beaches contained microplastics, mostly tiny fibers from textiles and fishing gear. Surprisingly, "natural" protected beaches had more microplastics than urban ones. This matters because these seagrass ecosystems trap plastic pollution that could otherwise enter the food chain we rely on for seafood.
The Role of Posidonia oceanica Spheroids in Assessing Microplastic Contamination in Coastal Ecosystems
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Researchers collected 1,300 Posidonia oceanica spheroids along the Italian coast and found that about 35% contained plastic debris, with nearly half of the items classified as microplastics. The most common polymers were nylon and PET, and contamination levels correlated with proximity to wastewater treatment plants. The study suggests that these seagrass spheroids could serve as useful bioindicators for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystems.
The trapping of microplastics in the Posidonia oceanica aegagropiles in Tunisian coastal areas—Southern Mediterranean
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Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination trapped in aegagropiles, the fibrous marine balls formed by Posidonia oceanica seagrass, along Tunisian coastal areas in the southern Mediterranean. The study found that these natural structures effectively trap microplastic particles from beach environments, providing both a useful indicator of local microplastic pollution levels and a natural mechanism for capturing plastic debris.
Seagrasses provide a novel ecosystem service by trapping marine plastics
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Researchers found up to 1,470 plastic items per kg in beached seagrass remains and aegagropilae (seagrass fiber balls), showing that seagrass meadows trap plastic debris — primarily negatively buoyant polymer filaments — and transport them back to shore via natural aggregation.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.