We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Multidisciplinary Approach for Assessment and Management of Posidonia Oceanica Banquettes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used a multidisciplinary approach to assess microplastic contamination within Posidonia oceanica banquettes — dead leaf accumulations along Mediterranean shores — and evaluated their ecological significance and management. MPs were found throughout the banquettes, and the study argued these habitats should be preserved rather than removed for beach aesthetics.
The Posidonia oceanica meadows and dead leaf accumulations along the Mediterranean seashores (known as banquettes), are key habitats for coastal marine environments, providing many ecological functions and ecosystems services. Despite their ecosystem services, the banquettes are still perceived as an “obstacle” to tourist and recreational activities, potentially unsafe for humans, trapping marine debris. This negative perception leads to ecologically and economically unsustainable management approaches, mainly removal and disposal in landfill with negative impacts on the environment (e.g. beach integrity alteration, biodiversity reduction) and increasing costs for beach cleaning. Despite their key ecological roles, banquettes are poorly investigated, concerning both their distribution and role as potential sink and source of contaminants (including microplastics). In this framework we investigated the Posidonia banquettes by using a multidisciplinary approach which includes: i) a GIS-based mapping of P. oceanica deposit sites along Italian coasts, and integration of other useful data (e.g. proximity to seagrass meadows, beach utilization, protected areas, etc.); ii) in situ survey of three selected sites; iii) physico-chemical characterization of banquettes samples for microplastic detection. Preliminary results contribute to improve scientific knowledge about the banquette (mapping and monitoring) and provide technical support for sustainable management of “Posidonia beaches”.
More Papers Like This
Posidonia oceanica wrack intercepts plastic debris: First evaluated evidence on Maltese beaches
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured plastic debris trapped within deposits of Posidonia oceanica seagrass wrack on three Maltese beaches, finding up to 102 plastic items per square meter and documenting the seagrass mats as useful indicators of coastal plastic pollution — including micro-, meso-, and macroplastics.
The power of Posidonia oceanica meadows to retain microplastics and the consequences on associated macrofaunal benthic communities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows accumulate microplastics in coastal sediments and the consequences for associated marine communities. The study found differences in microplastic abundance and composition at various depths and between vegetated and unvegetated sites, suggesting that seagrass beds may act as sinks for microplastic pollution with potential impacts on benthic organisms.
Identification and Measurement of Microplastics in Posidonia oceanica Banquettes in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers identified and measured microplastic debris accumulating in Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds in Tunisia's Gulf of Gabes, suggesting that these protected Mediterranean seagrasses may serve as natural traps for plastic pollution — both a warning sign and a potential monitoring tool.
Detection and quantification of microplastics in Posidonia oceanica banquettes in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia
AI summary Read the abstract
This Tunisian study used the seagrass Posidonia oceanica as a natural microplastic trap in the Gulf of Gabes, finding pellets, threads, and fragments of polyethylene, polystyrene, and phthalate plasticizers accumulated in the leaves. Seagrass meadows appear to function as significant sinks for microplastics, both trapping them at the surface and potentially burying them in sediments through leaf fall. This matters because P. oceanica meadows are important coastal ecosystems, and their contamination with microplastics and plasticizers threatens the organisms that depend on them.
Unveiling coastal pollution: A multi-technology approach to micro and macro litter assessment for the environmental characterization of beaches
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a multi-technology environmental characterization of a Mediterranean beach in southern Italy, simultaneously measuring microplastic density and beach litter composition using innovative low-impact procedures, providing a replicable framework for assessing combined micro-to-macro plastic pollution in coastal environments.
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.