Plastic Pollution
How much lost fishing gear contributes to ocean pollution each year?
A realistic global estimate for derelict fishing gear in our oceans.
Category: Plastic
Plastic Pollution
Life in plastic: Harmful bacteria and algae may hide in ocean plastic waste
Researchers from North Carolina investigate how many microbes can thrive inside a plastic bottle. Their findings may surprise you!
Plastic Pollution
Searching for microplastics: Scientists find a ‘missing’ piece
Researchers at FAU collected microplastics at different depths in the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. What they found will alter global…
Plastic Pollution
When microplastics go marshing in: A tale of two tidal marsh birds
As microplastic pollution continues to threaten coastal biodiversity, this study confirms its presence in tidal marsh birds.
Human impacts Plastic Pollution
Can citizen science improve marine debris monitoring efforts?
Public cleanup efforts should be useful for monitoring debris on our coastlines, but these efforts can lead to low-quality data…
Plastic Pollution
Mitigating microplastic pollution through ballast water treatment
By making a small change to existing ballast water treatment systems, we have a chance to tackle microplastic pollution.
Plastic
Scratching the surface: Microplastic distribution in the surface layer of the world’s ocean
Researchers have developed a dataset of microplastics in the ocean surface waters across the globe.
Biodiversity Biological oceanography Biology Human impacts Plastic Science Communication
Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing?
Citation: Ward JR, Lafferty KD (2004) The Elusive Baseline of Marine Disease: Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing? PLoS Biol…
Plastic
Incidental Ingestion: Do fishes intentionally swallow microplastics?
Microplastics in our oceans are a growing problem, but how do fishes investigate and interact with these particles?
Biology Chemistry Hazards Human Health Plastic Pollution
How many microplastics are in your body? An insight into lifetime accumulation
Microscopic plastics have been found anywhere and everywhere, including in the food we eat. With plastic pollution on the rise,…
Plastic Pollution
Let them eat plastic – Animals eating microplastic could choke the ocean
Plastic pollution may bring to mind big images - dead birds, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and beaches filled with…
Biology Human impacts Lakes Plastic
Can Green Algae Capture Microplastics in the Great Lakes?
Microplastics (specifically microfibers) can adhere to the cell walls of the green algae Cladophora, potentially removing them from the water.
Biological oceanography Climate Change Evolution Human impacts Microbiome Plastic
Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans
Plastic is abundant in the ocean ecosystem. Not only is it harmful to marine animals, but as scientists discovered, it…
Coastal Management Plastic Pollution
‘Out of Sight’ Can’t Mean ‘Out of Mind’
Surface marine debris and microplastic pollution has received more attention recently—which is great—but there’s another garbage problem we are only…
Biological oceanography Biology Ecology Fisheries Plastic Pollution
Plastics and Colors and Fish, Oh My!
Have you ever wondered what happens to the garbage that ends up in the ocean? Or about what just might…
Coastal Management Plastic
The plight of the mangrove
Celine E.J. van Bijsterveldt, Bregje K. van Wesenbeeck, Sri Ramadhani, Olivier V. Raven, Fleur E. van Gool, Rudhi Pribadi, Tjeerd…
Fisheries Human impacts Plastic
Don’t get ~tide~ down: Are biodegradable nets a good solution to the ghost fishing problem?
Biodegradable nets are a potential solution to the ghost fishing problem-or the phenomenon of lost fishing nets still catching animals.…
Biological oceanography Plastic
Can Pacific Oysters handle a bit of microplastics in the lab? Shuck yeah!
Filter feeding animals like oysters can be exposed to small plastic particles, called microplastics, as they filter food out of…
Conservation Human impacts Plastic Pollution
Microplastics, Canned Fish, and You: How plastic pollution may play a role in your next lunch
Did you know that many plastic items can shed tiny particles called microplastics? These microplastics are present everywhere in our…
Plastic
Life in Plastic: 14 Million Tonnes of Microplastics Likely on Sea Floor
The deep-sea floor has always fascinated scientists and ocean lovers alike with its mystery and wonder. For the first time…