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Plastic contamination of the Galapagos marine food web and the relative risks to native species
Summary
Researchers investigated plastic contamination across the marine food web of the Galapagos Islands and conducted a risk assessment to identify the most vulnerable species. They found plastic contamination in seawater, beach sediments, and marine organisms, with risk scores varying substantially by species feeding ecology and habitat. The study provides a framework for prioritizing conservation responses in a globally significant marine biodiversity hotspot.
Abstract Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands and their unique biodiversity are a global conservation priority. We investigated the presence, partitioning and environmental drivers of plastic contamination across the marine ecosystem, designing a systematic risk scoring analysis to identify the most vulnerable species. Beach contamination varied by site (macroplastic 0 - 0.66 items.m-2, large microplastics 0 - 448.8 particles.m-2, small microplastics 0 – 74.6 particles.kg-1), with high plastic accumulation on east-facing beaches indicating input from the Humboldt Current. Local littering and waste management leakages accounted for 2% of macroplastic. Microplastics (including synthetic cellulosics) were prevalent in sediments (6.7 - 86.7 particles.kg-1) and surface seawater (0.04 - 0.89 particles.m-3), with elevated concentrations in the harbour suggesting local input. Microplastics were present in all seven marine invertebrate species examined, found in 52% of individuals (n = 123). Risk scoring identified 32 species in need of urgent, targeted monitoring and mitigation including pinnipeds, seabirds, turtles, sharks and corals.