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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Linking effects of anthropogenic debris to ecological impacts

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 2015 251 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Mark A. Oakley Browne, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson A.J. Underwood, A.J. Underwood, Mark A. Oakley Browne, J.A. van Franeker, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, J.A. van Franeker, A.J. Underwood, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Mark A. Oakley Browne, M.G. Chapman, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson A.J. Underwood, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Mark A. Oakley Browne, M.G. Chapman, M.G. Chapman, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Mark A. Oakley Browne, Mark A. Oakley Browne, A.J. Underwood, A.J. Underwood, A.J. Underwood, M.G. Chapman, A.J. Underwood, A.J. Underwood, A.J. Underwood, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Rob Williams, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson J.A. van Franeker, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson

Summary

Researchers reviewed the links between anthropogenic debris exposure and ecological impacts, arguing that most studies focus only on sublethal responses to plastic debris. The study suggests that researchers have overlooked medical insights about how debris effects at lower biological levels can escalate to disease and mortality, and calls for policy to recognize the hazardous nature of marine debris.

Accelerated contamination of habitats with debris has caused increased effort to determine ecological impacts. Strikingly, most work on organisms focuses on sublethal responses to plastic debris. This is controversial because (i) researchers have ignored medical insights about the mechanisms that link effects of debris across lower levels of biological organization to disease and mortality, and (ii) debris is considered non-hazardous by policy-makers, possibly because individuals can be injured or removed from populations and assemblages without ecological impacts. We reviewed the mechanisms that link effects of debris across lower levels of biological organization to assemblages and populations. Using plastic, we show microplastics reduce the 'health', feeding, growth and survival of ecosystem engineers. Larger debris alters assemblages because fishing-gear and tyres kill animals and damage habitat-forming plants, and because floating bottles facilitate recruitment and survival of novel taxa. Where ecological linkages are not known, we show how to establish hypothetical links by synthesizing studies to assess the likelihood of impacts. We also consider how population models examine ecological linkages and guide management of ecological impacts. We show that by focusing on linkages to ecological impacts rather than the presence of debris and its sublethal impacts, we could reduce threats posed by debris.

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