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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Marine litter arrived: Distribution and potential sources on an unpopulated atoll in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Sea
ClearUnveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator
Microplastic abundance and distribution were documented across surface waters and sediments of an oceanic island, with findings indicating both local land-based pollution and ocean gyre-driven deposition of particles from distant sources.
Spatial distribution of microplastics around an inhabited coral island in the Maldives, Indian Ocean
Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation across fore reef, reef flat, and beach sediment environments surrounding a small inhabited coral island in the Maldives, finding 1,244 individual microplastic pieces across 22 sampling sites. The study reveals that even remote inhabited islands in the Indian Ocean show significant microplastic contamination, with spatial distribution patterns reflecting local hydrodynamics and human activities.
The spatial distribution of microplastic in the sands of a coral reef island in the South China Sea: Comparisons of the fringing reef and atoll
Microplastic abundance in coral reef island sands of the South China Sea was measured at fringing reef sites (90–530 items/kg) and atoll sites (60–610 items/kg), with the lower-human-activity Xisha Islands atoll showing higher concentrations attributed to oceanic current accumulation. The study reveals that even remote coral reef ecosystems are contaminated with microplastics and that oceanographic factors can outweigh local human activity.
Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study
Researchers tracked plastic bottle litter on 60 remote beaches across the Galapagos Islands from 2018 to 2022 to determine where marine debris originates. The study found that 76% of beaches were badly polluted, with bottles traced to sources in Asia, South America, and Central America, demonstrating how ocean currents carry plastic waste thousands of miles to even the most isolated island ecosystems.
In search for the sources of plastic marine litter that contaminates the Easter Island Ecoregion
Researchers used oceanographic modeling to trace the sources of plastic marine litter contaminating the remote Easter Island Ecoregion, finding contributions from distant land-based sources carried by ocean currents. The study illustrates how plastic pollution can reach even the most isolated marine ecosystems far from population centers.
Spatial and temporal variation of macro-, meso- and microplastic abundance on a remote coral island of the Maldives, Indian Ocean
Researchers conducted daily sampling of plastic debris on a remote Maldives island over seven consecutive days and found high spatial and temporal variability in plastic abundance despite the island's remoteness, warning that single-snapshot surveys can produce biased estimates and that future monitoring programs must account for natural fluctuations in deposition.
Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia
This study quantified both macro- and microplastic pollution on the coral reef of Mo'orea in French Polynesia, finding plastic at every sampled beach and in reef sediments. The research demonstrates that even remote Pacific island coral reefs receive significant plastic contamination from oceanic gyres and local sources.
Low densities of macroplastic debris in the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve
Despite beaches on Henderson Island in the Pitcairn group having some of the highest standing stocks of stranded plastic ever recorded, floating plastic densities in surrounding waters were found to be very low. This indicates that remote islands can act as accumulation traps for ocean plastic even when local surface water concentrations are not elevated.
Plastic pollution in islands of the Atlantic Ocean
A survey of plastic pollution on beaches of Atlantic Ocean islands from the Azores to Tristan da Cunha found microplastics and macroplastics at all locations, with composition suggesting origin from both local and long-distance ocean transport. The findings confirm that even remote Atlantic islands serve as sinks for globally circulating plastic debris.
Remote Islands Reveal Rapid Rise of Southern Hemisphere Sea Debris
Surveys of remote southern hemisphere islands showed that marine debris on shorelines — dominated by plastics — has increased substantially over recent decades, with floating plastic transporting organisms to places they have never existed before. The findings highlight that plastic pollution now threatens global biodiversity by serving as a vector for invasive species even in the most isolated parts of the ocean.
Distribution characteristics and transport pathways of soil microplastics in coral reef islands with different developmental stages and human activities
Researchers mapped microplastic contamination in the soil of coral reef islands in the South China Sea and found 1,068 to 1,616 particles per kilogram across islands at different stages of development. More developed islands with greater human activity had higher contamination levels, and ocean currents and monsoons were the main forces spreading microplastics to less developed islands. The study shows that even remote island ecosystems are not safe from microplastic pollution, which can affect the soil and water these communities depend on.
Marine protected areas invaded by floating anthropogenic litter: An example from the South Pacific
Researchers found that marine protected areas in the Easter Island Ecoregion of the South Pacific are heavily invaded by floating anthropogenic litter traceable to high-seas industrial fisheries, with seabirds suffering both microplastic ingestion and macroplastic nest contamination.
Pelagic microplastics around an archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic
Researchers surveyed pelagic microplastic abundance around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago in the Equatorial Atlantic, documenting the presence of microplastics at a remote mid-ocean location far from major urban centers. The findings extend the known geographic distribution of marine microplastic pollution to equatorial Atlantic waters and suggest widespread oceanic transport from distant sources.
Unveiling the hidden threat of microplastics to coral reefs in remote South Atlantic islands
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination of coral reefs on remote South Atlantic islands, finding widespread microplastic presence in reef environments and raising concerns about the physiological and ecological harm to coral ecosystems far from human population centers.
Lost and found: Patterns of marine litter accumulation on the remote Island of Santa Luzia, Cabo Verde.
A survey of the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia in Cabo Verde found marine litter accumulating on beaches despite its status as a protected nature reserve and nesting site for loggerhead turtles. The presence of plastic and other debris even on remote, protected shores underscores that no coastal ecosystem is shielded from global marine litter.
Seasonal-Dial Shifts of Ichthyoplankton Assemblages and Plastic Debris around an Equatorial Atlantic Archipelago
A study near a remote Atlantic archipelago found plastic debris in ocean waters year-round regardless of season, while fish larvae communities shifted with the dry and wet seasons. The consistent presence of plastic debris even in this remote equatorial location underscores how widespread ocean plastic pollution has become.
Source, sea and sink—A holistic approach to understanding plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean
Researchers took a holistic approach to characterizing plastic pollution across surface water, subsurface, sediment, and biota in the Southern Caribbean, finding that despite heavy tourism and fishing reliance, quantitative plastic data for the region had been largely absent.
Abundance and distribution of solid waste and microplastics in southeastern Brazilian islands: a comprehensive analysis
Solid waste and microplastic abundance and distribution were characterized on beaches of three islands in southeastern Brazil - Trindade, Grande, and Paqueta - varying in proximity to the continent and occupation patterns. The study identified factors driving debris origin and distribution, including island remoteness, tourism, and proximity to shipping routes.
Observations of floating anthropogenic litter in the Barents Sea and Fram Strait, Arctic
Ship and helicopter surveys in the Barents Sea and Fram Strait confirmed the presence of anthropogenic litter, mostly plastic, in these remote Arctic waters. The findings indicate that ocean currents transport plastic debris from distant sources to even the most isolated polar seas, leaving no part of the global ocean untouched.
Impacts of Marine Plastic Pollution From Continental Coasts to Subtropical Gyres—Fish, Seabirds, and Other Vertebrates in the SE Pacific
A review of anthropogenic marine debris in the Southeast Pacific found that most plastic pollution along continental coasts originated from local land-based sources, with fish, seabirds, and sea turtles all documented as ingesting or becoming entangled in debris. The study highlights the need for regional waste management improvements to protect SE Pacific vertebrate populations from plastic pollution.
Sources of marine debris for Seychelles and other remote islands in the western Indian Ocean
Researchers used global Lagrangian particle tracking simulations incorporating ocean currents, waves, and variable windage to identify sources of marine debris accumulating at Seychelles and other remote western Indian Ocean islands, finding that high-buoyancy terrestrial debris originates primarily from Indonesia and South Asia, while fishing gear fragments and shipping waste also contribute significantly with seasonal accumulation peaking during February to April.
Rastreando microplásticos em águas costeiras: um estudo de fatores ambientais usando canoa havaiana
Researchers tracked microplastic (MP) pollution in coastal waters using Hawaiian outrigger canoes, studying how environmental factors influence MP distribution in zones where terrestrial and marine sources intensely interact. The work aimed to better understand MP dynamics in biodiverse coastal ecosystems subject to tourism, fishing, and navigation.
Pollution affects even oceanic marine protected areas in Southwestern Atlantic
Researchers found plastic pollution including microplastics in oceanic marine protected areas in the Southwestern Atlantic, demonstrating that protected status does not shield even remote open-ocean sites from contamination. The findings argue for pollution source control rather than reliance on protected areas alone.
The flip-or-flop boutique: Marine debris on the shores of St Brandon's rock, an isolated tropical atoll in the Indian Ocean
Researchers catalogued 50,000 marine debris items on St. Brandon's Rock, a remote Indian Ocean atoll, identifying Southeast Asia and the Arabian Sea region as likely source areas; 79% of items were plastic, with the presence of intact compact fluorescent lights raising concerns about long-distance mercury transport via marine debris.