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Kannan G, Mghili B, Di Martino E, Sanchez-Vidal A, Figuerola B. Increasing risk of invasions by organisms on marine debris in the Southeast coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115469. [PMID: 37703630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasing amount of anthropogenic litter in the marine environment has provided an enormous number of substrates for a wide range of marine organisms, thus serving as a potential vector for the transport of fouling organisms. Here, we examined the fouling organisms on different types of stranded litter (plastic, glass, rubber, foam sponge, cloth, metal and wood) on eight beaches along the southeast coast of India. In total, 17 encrusting species belonging to seven phyla (Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Mollusca, Annelida, Cnidaria, Chlorophyta and Foraminifera) were identified on 367 items, with one invasive species, the mussel Mytella strigata, detected. The most common species associated with marine litter were the cosmopolitan bryozoans Jellyella tuberculata (%O = 31.64 %) and J. eburnea (28.61 %), the barnacle species Lepas anserifera (29.97 %), Amphibalanus amphitrite (22.34 %) and Amphibalanus sp. (14.16 %), and the oyster species Saccostrea cucullata (13.62 %) and Magallana bilineata (5.44 %). We also reported the first records on stranded litter of four species: the gastropod species Pirenella cingulata and Umbonium vestiarium, the foraminiferan Ammonia beccarii, and the oyster M. bilineata. This study is thus the first documentation of marine litter as a vector for species dispersal in India, where the production and consumption of plastic rank among the highest in the world. We also highlight the increasing risk of invasions by non-indigenous organisms attached to debris along the southeast coast of India. Comprehensive monitoring efforts are thus needed to elucidate the type of vectors responsible for the arrival of invasive species in this region. Raising awareness and promoting education are vital components in fostering sustainable solutions to combat plastic pollution in the country and globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunasekaran Kannan
- Centre for Aquaculture, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Emanuela Di Martino
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo - Blindern, P.O. Box 1172, Oslo 0318, Norway
| | - Anna Sanchez-Vidal
- GRC Geociències Marines, Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l'Oceà, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Blanca Figuerola
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
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Gunasekaran K, Mghili B, Saravanakumar A. Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic in coastal environment, Southeast Coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113769. [PMID: 35609465 PMCID: PMC9114149 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The rise in the use of single-use plastics and personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased plastic waste in the marine environment. In this study, we surveyed the presence of PPE (face masks and gloves) discharged in 6 beaches along the coast of India. A total of 496 PPE were counted with an average density of 1.08 × 10-3 PPE m-2. The PPE density found was comparable to previous studies. Face masks were the most recorded type of PPE (98.39%), with gloves accounting for only 1.61% of the total. However, a significant reduction in the appearance of PPE was recorded on all six beaches, likely due to the increase in vaccination rates. The most contaminated places were the beaches with recreational activities + fishing. It has been noticed that the lack of awareness of environmental pollution and the negligence of the population and the mismanagement of municipal waste are the main causes of beach pollution by PPE. This study confirms the potential threat of PPE to terrestrial and aquatic organisms of multiple taxa in India, but further studies are needed to quantify the impact of this type of waste on marine animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Gunasekaran
- Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Annamalai University, Parangipettai 608502, Tamil Nadu, India; Centre for Aquaculture, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600019, India
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco.
| | - Ayyappan Saravanakumar
- Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Annamalai University, Parangipettai 608502, Tamil Nadu, India
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De K, Sautya S, Gaikwad S, Mitra A, Nanajkar M. Characterization of anthropogenic marine macro-debris affecting coral habitat in the highly urbanized seascape of Mumbai megacity. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 298:118798. [PMID: 34999148 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Marine debris has become a major form of pollution and a serious ecosystem health concern. The present study evaluates the accumulation, origin, and fate of debris in intertidal coral habitats of Mumbai-one of the world's highly populated coastal cities on the west coast of India. Predominantly, seven hermatypic coral species belonging to seven genera and five families were identified and mainly represented by Pseudosidastrea, Porites, and Bernardpora. In terms of number, the mean density of marine debris was 1.60 ± 0.13 SE items/m2, which is higher than the global average. The mean density of plastic debris was 1.46 ± 0.14 SE items/m2. Approximately 9% of total coral colonies were in physical contact with debris, and 22% of these colonies showed visible signs of partial bleaching. Single use plastic bags and wrappers were dominant plastic debris. The study area was characterized as 'very poor cleanliness' according to the Beach Quality Indexes, which include the Clean Coast Index, General Index, and Hazardous Items Index. The numerical model indicates the influence of river discharge and probable areas of plastic accumulation with high tidal currents in this region, maneuvering the spatial advection of litter in the nearshore areas. Combined analysis of ground-truthing and model simulation implies that the possible contributing sources of litter were representatives of land-based and sea-originated. The overall results point to increasing anthropogenic stressors threatening coastal coral communities, including marine debris pollution. It is advocated to adopt an integrated coastal zone management approach supported by coordinated policy frameworks could guide the mitigation of the debris footprint in coastal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyan De
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India.
| | - Sabyasachi Sautya
- Laboratory for Benthic Ecological Trait Analysis (L-BETA), CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre-Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400053, India.
| | - Santosh Gaikwad
- Laboratory for Benthic Ecological Trait Analysis (L-BETA), CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre-Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400053, India.
| | - Aditi Mitra
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India.
| | - Mandar Nanajkar
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India.
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Empowering Local Practitioners to Collect and Report on Anthropogenic Riverine and Marine Debris Using Inexpensive Methods in India. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
This article includes a review of the literature on marine debris in an Indian context and introduces a replicable, scientific, and inexpensive collection method to build capacity and inform policymakers. We share baseline data resulting from ten cleanups using these methods in India. This method was introduced in a 2019 workshop to train Indian researchers, leading to local-led collections in three states and two Union Territories (8 beaches, 2 riversides) yielding 33,474 individual pieces of debris weighing a total of 599.15 kg. Plastic was the most frequently found material at all ten collection sites, comprising from 45% to 89% of all items found. The research establishes a baseline data collection at ten locations, with debris density at sites ranging from 0.38–3.86 items/m2. Application of the Clean Coast Index yields resulting rankings of moderate (1 site), dirty (2 sites), and extremely dirty (7 sites). Researchers also identified 2461 brands in analysis at six sites, 76% of which were Indian in origin. Replication of the methods in other Indian regions among the community of thirty-three practitioners was below target for collection (41%) and brand audit (8.3%) with 25% of teams sharing data with the community of practitioners and 12.5% sharing results with local policymakers. The analysis indicates debris is overwhelmingly composed of plastic from residential activities. The methods empower practitioners to collect and report on debris, ground-truthing global debris estimates, and illuminating the missing plastic problem.
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Mueller JS, Bill N, Reinach MS, Lasut MT, Freund H, Schupp PJ. A comprehensive approach to assess marine macro litter pollution and its impacts on corals in the Bangka Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113369. [PMID: 35144214 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This is a comprehensive study showing the marine anthropogenic litter pollution within North Sulawesi, Indonesia. From an area of 2972 m2 that encompassed five sparsely populated locations, a total of 9421 litter items weighing 137 kg were collected. One location (Talisei North) contributed 50% of all collected litter items. Plastic litter always dominated with 96-99%. Litter was unevenly distributed across investigated areas reaching from the upper beach (3.6-30.1 items/m2) to the reef slope (0-0.03 items/m2). Litter composition and daily accumulation showed spatial-temporal dynamics, with upper beach areas displaying the overall highest accumulation rates. Reef micro-habitats were differently affected, with the reef moat and reef flat showing the highest litter concentrations, although litter amounts were much lower compared to the corresponding beaches. Branching corals, especially Porites cylindrica, were most affected by litter entanglement. Field experiments with P. cylindrica showed that attached plastic induced bleaching, necrosis, and algal overgrowth within five months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin S Mueller
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Nicolas Bill
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Marco S Reinach
- Coral Eye Resort and Research Outpost, 95375 Bangka Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Markus T Lasut
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at the Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT), Jalan Kampus Unsrat Bahu, 95115 Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Holger Freund
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Peter J Schupp
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
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6
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Westlake EL, Lawrence E, Travaglione N, Barnes P, Thomson DP. Low quantities of marine debris at the northern Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, influenced by visitation and accessibility. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113294. [PMID: 35090279 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Marine debris (MD) is a serious environmental concern globally. Yet, few studies have reported on MD in sanctuary zones of the Indian Ocean. Consequently, coastal transects were conducted to determine MD quantity, composition and distribution at northern Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. Debris density ranged between 0.004 and 0.02 items m-2 with the greatest density near Exmouth township. Composition was predominantly plastic (61%) with fishing-related items (25.5%) and plastic fragments/remnants (16%) the most numerous overall. Land-based and general sourced MD accounted for 88% of all debris. Debris levels were significantly lower at sites with higher visitation and increased distance from access points. There was no significant difference between sanctuary and non-sanctuary zones. Although not immune to MD, this study suggests its remote location, environmental awareness and management strategies implemented at Ningaloo Marine Park may be key to its low MD levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Westlake
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Emma Lawrence
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Data61, 41 Boggo Rd, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | | | - Peter Barnes
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 20 Nimitz St, Exmouth, WA 6707, Australia
| | - Damian P Thomson
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Shaikh IV, Shaikh VAE. A comprehensive review on assessment of plastic debris in aquatic environment and its prevalence in fishes and other aquatic animals in India. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146421. [PMID: 33744569 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The presence of meso, macro, and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has raised concerns due to their potential risks to aquatic as well as human life. Though plastics are considered to be inert in nature, MPs with toxic additives and accumulated contaminants have harmful ecological effects. Reports of absorption of MPs by internal tissues and toxicity in vital organs such as lung cells, liver, and brain cells have proved its serious health hazards. The study of plastic debris in the aquatic environment deserves special attention due to its ecotoxicological impact. This review presents a detailed account of the assessment of plastic debris in marine as well as freshwater environments. The formation of MPs and their sources, sampling, isolation, identification and characterization methods adopted, and the prevalence of MPs in aquatic life are discussed. To the best of our knowledge, the present article is a first-ever comprehensive review covering the entire of India. Our review finds that, so far, very few studies have been carried out, and there is a paucity of information, especially on the prevalence of plastic debris in the freshwater environment, fish, and other aquatic animals in India. While major studies have been done at various coastal locations in the southern part of India and a few studies in the rest of India, south-eastern states remain neglected. Toxicological studies on various life forms, including humans, are lacking. The present review also fills the gap in our knowledge of the various locations studied across India and can guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishrat Vasi Shaikh
- Department of Zoology, Abeda Inamdar Senior College, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune 411001, India.
| | - Vasi Ahmed Ebrahim Shaikh
- Polymer Chemistry Research Laboratory, School of Chemistry, MIT World Peace University, Pune 411038, India
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Mugilarasan M, Karthik R, Purvaja R, Robin RS, Subbareddy B, Hariharan G, Rohan S, Jinoj TPS, Anandavelu I, Pugalenthi P, Ramesh R. Spatiotemporal variations in anthropogenic marine litter pollution along the northeast beaches of India. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 280:116954. [PMID: 33773306 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter is widely distributed in marine environments and has been a severe concern worldwide, due to the disposal of waste from diverse sources. The severity of this threat has garnered increasing attention in India over the last decade, but the full consequences of this pollution are yet to be quantified. To estimate the spatiotemporal distribution, composition and beach quality of marine litter pollution, 17 beaches along the Hooghly estuary, a part of the Gangetic delta was studied. Marine litter was collected from 100 m long transects during two seasons (monsoon and post-monsoon). The OSPAR monitoring standard was applied to the 16,597 litter items collected, then grouped under 6 types and 44 categories. In terms of number, litter abundance was higher during monsoon (1.10 ± 0.39 items/m2) than that of post-monsoon (0.86 ± 0.32 items/m2). Most of the beaches were categorized as low cleanliness as computed by the general index and clean coast index and the good for the pellet pollution index. Hazardous litter constituted 6.5% of the total collected litter items. The model prediction revealed that the influence of high discharge from Hooghly, Rasulpur and Subarnarekha River carried enormous anthropogenic litter to the northeast beaches. The litter flux decreases with an increase in distance from the shore, and act as a sink to the sea-floor. The results denote that the distribution and typology of marine litter were representatives of household, tourism and fishing, which in turn highlights the need for better regional litter management measures. Suggested management practices include source reduction, mitigation, management of beach environment and change in littering behaviour through environmental education.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mugilarasan
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - R Karthik
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
| | - R Purvaja
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - R S Robin
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - B Subbareddy
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - G Hariharan
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - S Rohan
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - T P S Jinoj
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - I Anandavelu
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - P Pugalenthi
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India
| | - R Ramesh
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chennai, 600 025, India.
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Baseline Study on Microplastics in Indian Rivers under Different Anthropogenic Influences. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13121648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microplastic particles are found in environmental compartments all over the world and receive a great deal of attention, especially in the aquatic environment. Currently, a particularly high input of microplastics via Asian rivers is assumed, but so far, there are hardly any data through field measurements. Three rivers in South India were considered for this purpose to focus on their microplastic load. The emphasis was on the comparison of microplastic concentrations in urban and rural rivers. While two rivers in the megacity Chennai (Tamil Nadu) were found to have an average microplastic concentration of 0.4 microplastic particles/L, a rural river near Munnar (Kerala) had an average concentration of 0.2 microplastic particles/L. Rough estimates of annual microplastic discharge from the Adyar River (Chennai) into the Bay of Bengal are found to be as high as 11.6 trillion microplastic particles. This study should be one of the first baseline studies for microplastic loads in South Indian streams and should be complemented with further environmental sampling before, during and after the monsoon season to get more detailed information on the storage and transportation of fluvial microplastics under different weather conditions.
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10
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Patterson Edward JK, Jayanthi M, Malleshappa H, Immaculate Jeyasanta K, Laju RL, Patterson J, Diraviya Raj K, Mathews G, Marimuthu AS, Grimsditch G. COVID-19 lockdown improved the health of coastal environment and enhanced the population of reef-fish. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 165:112124. [PMID: 33652256 PMCID: PMC7862902 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Reduction in the impact of human-induced factors is capable of enhancing the environmental health. In view of COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns were imposed in India. Travel, fishing, tourism and religious activities were halted, while domestic and industrial activities were restricted. Comparison of the pre- and post-lockdown data shows that water parameters such as turbidity, nutrient concentration and microbial levels have come down from pre- to post-lockdown period, and parameters such as dissolved oxygen levels, phytoplankton and fish densities have improved. The concentration of macroplastics has also dropped from the range of 138 ± 4.12 and 616 ± 12.48 items/100 m2 to 63 ± 3.92 and 347 ± 8.06 items/100 m2. Fish density in the reef areas has increased from 406 no. 250 m-2 to 510 no. 250 m-2. The study allows an insight into the benefits of effective enforcement of various eco-protection regulations and proper management of the marine ecosystems to revive their health for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Jayanthi
- Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu, Saidapet, Chennai, India
| | - H Malleshappa
- State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority-TN, Saidapet, Chennai, India
| | | | - R L Laju
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, India
| | | | - K Diraviya Raj
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, India
| | - G Mathews
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, India
| | - A S Marimuthu
- Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Ramanathapuram, India
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11
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Mulochau T, Lelabousse C, Séré M. Estimations of densities of marine litter on the fringing reefs of Mayotte (France - South Western Indian Ocean) - impacts on coral communities. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111643. [PMID: 33181926 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present study was carried out at 22 stations located on the fringing reefs of the island of Mayotte inside the perimeter of the Marine Natural Park of Mayotte (PNMM). The average assessment of the number of samples of marine litter (ML) collected at these stations was 3.9 ± 1.3 ML per 500 m2 in winter and 3.8 ± 1.1 ML per 500 m2 in summer. Plastic ML was dominant, representing approximately 92% of the litter collected at the stations for the two seasons. The majority was plastic ML from fishing gear (lines, nets etc.). Station 18 presented remarkable average densities of 39 ± 4.2 ML per 500 m2 for the two seasons and differed from the other stations in that the ML came solely from the catchment areas, with a majority of aluminium ML (56%). Approximately half the coral colonies coming into contact with ML presented an impact dominated by the category of "Broken or abraded colonies", with 25% of the colonies being impacted. The colonies most severely impacted by ML were branch or table corals, with the greatest majority for the present study being of the genus Acropora.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clément Lelabousse
- Parc Naturel Marin de Mayotte, Centre d'affaires de l'aéroport de, Mayotte 97615, Pamandzi, France.
| | - Mathieu Séré
- University of Derby, Aquatic Research Facility Environmental, Sustainability Research Centre, Kedleston Road DE2216B, Derby, United Kingdom.
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12
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Abstract
With the focus on microplastic in current research, macroplastic is often not further considered. Thus, this review paper is the first to analyse the entry paths, accumulation zones, and sinks of macroplastic in the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environment by presenting transport paths and concentrations in the environment as well as related risks. This is done by applying the Source–Pathway–Receptor model on macroplastic in the environment. Based on this model, the life cycle of macroplastic is structurally described, and knowledge gaps are identified. Hence, current research aspects on macroplastic as well as a sound delimitation between macro- and microplastic that can be applied to future research are indicated. The results can be used as basic information for further research and show a qualitative assessment of the impact of macroplastic that ends up in the environment and accumulates there. Furthermore, the applied model allows for the first time a quantitative and structured approach to macroplastic in the environment.
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13
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Suka R, Huntington B, Morioka J, O'Brien K, Acoba T. Successful application of a novel technique to quantify negative impacts of derelict fishing nets on Northwestern Hawaiian Island reefs. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 157:111312. [PMID: 32658678 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The remote and uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) contain 70% of the shallow water coral reefs in the United States and are regularly exposed to derelict fishing nets. These nets snag on the shallow reefs, damaging or killing benthic communities. However, no data exist to quantify this impact. Here we use a novel application of photogrammetry, Structure-from-Motion (SfM), to calculate benthic cover from mosaic images at net-impact and control sites. Net-impact sites had significantly higher cover of bare substrate, sand, and crustose coralline algae and significantly lower coral and macroalgae cover compared to control sites. These differences were unrelated to net size and fouling. Our study demonstrates the utility of using SfM to efficiently quantify impacts of derelict fishing nets. Revisiting these sites will be essential to document how the reef recovers to further our understanding of the lasting impacts of derelict fishing nets on coral reef habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda Suka
- Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA.
| | - Brittany Huntington
- Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - James Morioka
- Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - Kevin O'Brien
- Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - Tomoko Acoba
- Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
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