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Category: Plastic

Oh I do like to see inside the sea birds
Plastic Pollution

Oh I do like to see inside the sea birds

How to look inside sea birds to find plastics… without hurting them?
March 31, 2023 Valeria Contreras
Microplastic, macro problem: Microplastics discovered in fishes from remote coral reefs in the South China Sea
Plastic Pollution

Microplastic, macro problem: Microplastics discovered in fishes from remote coral reefs in the South China Sea

Scientists quantify microplastics in various species of coral reef fishes from the Xisha Islands.
March 30, 2023March 27, 2023 Katherine Grellman
deep sea Human impacts Plastic

Lebensspuren and müllspuren – the way trash is changing the sea floor

Artifacts from the deepest parts of earth are being shaped - literally - by plastic bags
February 28, 2023 Piper Evans
Can we use bacteria to help clean up plastic in the ocean?
Microbiology Plastic

Can we use bacteria to help clean up plastic in the ocean?

A "microbiosphere" could be engineered to introduce plastic-degrading bacteria to marine plastic pollution, but many questions still remain.
February 20, 2023February 17, 2023 Hannah Collins
Chemicals released from plastic disrupt marine microbes
Plastic

Chemicals released from plastic disrupt marine microbes

We know how plastic pieces affect ocean life, but do we think enough about “invisible” chemicals from plastic?
December 6, 2022December 6, 2022 Jiwoon Park
How much lost fishing gear contributes to ocean pollution each year?
Plastic Pollution

How much lost fishing gear contributes to ocean pollution each year?

A realistic global estimate for derelict fishing gear in our oceans.
October 21, 2022October 19, 2022 Kayla Mladinich
Life in plastic: Harmful bacteria and algae may hide in ocean plastic waste
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!
April 27, 2022April 27, 2022 Julie Maurer
Searching for microplastics: Scientists find a ‘missing’ piece
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…
March 29, 2022March 23, 2022 Kayla Mladinich
When microplastics go marshing in: A tale of two tidal marsh birds
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.
March 25, 2022March 29, 2022 Cindy Lebrasse, Ph.D.
Can citizen science improve marine debris monitoring efforts?
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…
February 25, 2022February 23, 2022 Kayla Mladinich
Mitigating microplastic pollution through ballast water treatment
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.
January 27, 2022January 28, 2022 Cindy Lebrasse, Ph.D.
Scratching the surface: Microplastic distribution in the surface layer of the world’s ocean
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.
October 26, 2021October 31, 2021 Kayla Mladinich
Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing?
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…
August 23, 2021August 30, 2021 Krti Tallam
Incidental Ingestion: Do fishes intentionally swallow microplastics?
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?
August 10, 2021 Francesca Giammona
How many microplastics are in your body? An insight into lifetime accumulation
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,…
July 30, 2021July 30, 2021 Kayla Mladinich
Let them eat plastic – Animals eating microplastic could choke the ocean
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…
April 30, 2021 Kristin Huizenga
Can Green Algae Capture Microplastics in the Great Lakes?
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.
March 19, 2021March 18, 2021 Hannah Collins
Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans
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…
January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 Diana Fontaine
‘Out of Sight’ Can’t Mean ‘Out of Mind’
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…
January 13, 2021 Andrea Schlunk
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…
December 22, 2020 Cierra Braga

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