Prevalence of entanglements of seabirds in marine debris in the central Portuguese coast

From Plastic Waste to Green Hydrogen and Valuable Chemicals Using Sunlight and Water

Over 79 % of 6.3 billion tonnes of plastics produced from 1950 to 2015 have been disposed in landfills or found their way to the oceans, where they will reside for up to hundreds of years before being decomposed bringing upon significant dangers to our health and ecosystems. Plastic photoreforming offers an appealing alternative by using solar energy and water to transform plastic waste into value-added chemical commodities, while simultaneously producing green hydrogen via the hydrogen evolution reaction. This review aims to provide an overview of the underlying principles of emerging plastic photoreforming technologies, highlight the challenges associated with experimental protocols and performance assessments, discuss recent global breakthroughs on the photoreforming of plastics, and propose perspectives for future research. A critical assessment of current plastic photoreforming studies shows a lack of standardised conditions, hindering comparison amongst photocatalyst performance. Guidelines to establish a more accurate evaluation of materials and systems are proposed, with the aim to facilitate the translation of promising fundamental discovery in photocatalysts design.

Contamination of coastal and marine bird species with plastics: Global analysis and synthesis

This review article provides an account of coastal and marine bird species contaminated with plastics in light of ingestion, taxonomy, feeding clusters, types, shapes, colours and lethal and sublethal effects. Bird species were found contaminated with plastics in 39 locations/countries across the seven continents. Global analysis shows that low, medium and high plastic ingestion occurred in bird species across the globe. Fulmars, shearwaters, petrels, albatrosses, gulls, and kittiwakes (all marine/seabirds) were found contaminated with plastics in several locations in the world. Bird species belonging to the Procellariidae, Laridae, Diomedeidae (by taxonomy), piscivorous, molluscivorous, and cancrivorous (by feeding habits) were most contaminated with plastics. Microplastic, mesoplastic and macroplastic (by sizes), PP, PE, PS, PET, PAN and PVC (by types), fragments, pellets, fibres, foams, sheets, threads, fishing lines and films (by shapes) and white, blue, green, black, clear, red and yellow (by colours) were the most common plastics ingested by birds. Several bird species contaminated with plastics fall within the critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable categories. The ingestion of plastics can cause direct harm to birds resulting in death. In addition, plastic-derived toxic chemical additives and plastic-adsorbed toxic chemicals would be an additional stressor causing both lethal and sublethal effects that can cause greater harm to the health of birds. Several measures are suggested to reduce plastic pollution in the environment to safeguard birds and the environment.

Assessing the impacts of trace element contamination on the physiology and health of seabirds breeding along the western and southern coasts of Portugal

Coastal seabirds serve as sentinels of ecosystem health due to their vulnerability to contamination from human activities. However, our understanding on how contaminant burdens affect the physiological and health condition of seabirds is still scarce, raising the uncertainty on the species' vulnerability vs tolerance to environmental contamination. Here, we quantified 15 Trace Elements (TE) in the blood of gull (yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis and Audouin's gull Ichthyaetus audouinii) and shearwater (Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis) adults, breeding in five colonies along the Portuguese coastline. Additionally, stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) were quantified to elucidate foraging habitat and trophic ecology of adults, to identify potential patterns of TE contamination among colonies. We used immuno-haematological parameters as response variables to assess the influence of TE concentrations, stable isotope values, and breeding colony on adults' physiological and health condition. Remarkably, we found blood mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations to exceed reported toxicity thresholds in 25% and 13% of individuals, respectively, raising ecotoxicological concerns for these populations. The breeding colony was the primary factor explaining variation in five out of six models, underlining the influence of inherent species needs on immuno-haematological parameters. Model selection indicated a negative relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and both Hg and selenium (Se) concentrations, but a positive relationship with δ13C. The number of immature erythrocyte counts was positively related to Hg and Se, particularly in yellow-legged gulls from one colony, highlighting the colony-site context's influence on haematological parameters. Further research is needed to determine whether essential TE concentrations, particularly copper (Cu) and Se, are falling outside the normal range for seabirds or meet species-specific requirements. Continuous monitoring of non-essential TE concentrations like aluminium (Al), Hg, and Pb, is crucial due to their potential hazardous concentrations, as observed in our study colonies.

Identifying potential high-risk zones for land-derived plastic litter to marine megafauna and key habitats within the North Atlantic

The pervasive use of plastic in modern society has led to plastic litter becoming ubiquitous within the ocean. Land-based sources of plastic litter are thought to account for the majority of plastic pollution in the marine environment, with plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, food containers and cutlery among the most common items found. In the marine environment, plastic is a transboundary pollutant, with the potential to cause damage far beyond the political borders from where it originated, making the management of this global pollutant particularly complex. In this study, the risks of land-derived plastic litter (LDPL) to major groups of marine megafauna - seabirds, cetaceans, pinnipeds, elasmobranchs, turtles, sirenians, tuna and billfish - and a selection of productive and biodiverse biogenic habitats - coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, saltmarsh and kelp beds - were analysed using a Spatial Risk Assessment approach. The approach combines metrics for vulnerability (mechanism of harm for megafauna group or habitat), hazard (plastic abundance) and exposure (distribution of group or habitat). Several potential high-risk zones (HRZs) across the North Atlantic were highlighted, including the Azores, the UK, the French and US Atlantic coasts, and the US Gulf of Mexico. Whilst much of the modelled LDPL driving risk in the UK originated from domestic sources, in other HRZs, such as the Azores archipelago and the US Gulf of Mexico, plastic originated almost exclusively from external (non-domestic) sources. LDPL from Caribbean islands - some of the largest generators of marine plastic pollution in the dataset of river plastic emissions used in the study - was noted as a significant input to HRZs across both sides of the Atlantic. These findings highlight the potential of Spatial Risk Assessment analyses to determine the location of HRZs and understand where plastic debris monitoring and management should be prioritised, enabling more efficient deployment of interventions and mitigation measures.

Quantifying potential marine debris sources and potential threats to penguins on the West Antarctic Peninsula

Marine pollution is becoming ubiquitous in the environment. Observations of pollution on beaches, in the coastal ocean, and in organisms in the Antarctic are becoming distressingly common. Increasing human activity, growing tourism, and an expanding krill fishing industry along the West Antarctic Peninsula all represent potential sources of plastic pollution and other debris (collectively referred to as debris) to the region. However, the sources of these pollutants from point (pollutants released from discrete sources) versus non-point (pollutants from a large area rather than a specific source) sources are poorly understood. We used buoyant simulated particles released in a high-resolution physical ocean model to quantify pollutant loads throughout the region. We considered non-point sources of debris from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Bellingshausen Sea, Weddell Sea, and point source pollution from human activities including tourism, research, and fishing. We also determined possible origins for observed debris based on data from the Southern Ocean Observing System and Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research program. Our results indicate that point source pollution released in the coastal Antarctic is more likely to serve as a source for observed debris than non-point sources, and that the dominant source of pollution is region-specific. Penguin colonies in the South Shetland and Elephant Islands had the greatest debris load from point sources whereas loads from non-point sources were greatest around the southernmost colonies. Penguin colonies at Cornwallis Island and Fort Point were exposed to the highest theoretical debris loads. While these results do not include physical processes such as windage and Stokes Drift that are known to impact debris distributions and transport in the coastal ocean, these results provide critical insights to building an effective stratified sampling and monitoring effort to better understand debris distributions, concentrations, and origins throughout the West Antarctic Peninsula.

Fatal interactions of albatrosses with weather radiosondes/balloons on the Southern and Southeastern coasts of Brazil

Weather radiosondes play a crucial role in gathering atmospheric data for weather modeling and forecasting. However, their impact on marine wildlife, particularly seabirds, has raised concerns regarding the potential threats posed by these instruments. This study aims to assess the adverse effects of weather balloons on albatrosses, with a focus on the Southwest Atlantic region. The research reveals seven cases of entanglement of radiosonde equipment, leading to severe injuries and mortality along the Southern and Southeastern coasts of Brazil. Recommendations for mitigating the environmental impact of weather balloons include the adoption of biodegradable materials in their design and the implementation of improved retrieval protocols. Furthermore, the study stresses the importance of continued monitoring and research to address the interaction of weather radiosondes with marine animals. This approach is vital for ensuring the sustainable collection of scientific data while minimizing harm to marine life and ecosystems.

Rocky reef incursions: challenges faced by reef fishes in a Brazilian Hope Spot region

Biodiversity conservation has been a critical challenge faced by environmental managers worldwide. From 2020 to 2022, a total of 576 underwater visual censuses focused on reef fishes, marine litter (ML), and non-native species were performed in the newest Brazilian Hope Spot, to understand the distribution, characteristics, and effects of ML and Tubastraea spp., on the reef fish community. Plastic was the main category recorded (34.54 %), followed by Metal and Line (mostly fishing gear within a Marine Protected Area). Tubastraea spp. was widely distributed, especially between 10-20 meters deep. The t-test analysis showed that fish abundance and richness were significantly higher at low Tubastraea cover areas. Our efforts present the baseline of ML (mean 1.92 ± 1.5 items/100 m2) and non-native species occurrence (15) and distribution (including three new records) showing their negative impacts on rocky reef ecosystems and provide managers support in the elaboration of marine conservation strategies.

Plastic Entanglement Poses a Potential Hazard to European Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus in Great Britain

A questionnaire to gather evidence on the plastic entanglement of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was sent to 160 wildlife rehabilitation centres in Great Britain. Fifty-four responses were received, and 184 individual admissions owing to plastic entanglement were reported. Death was the outcome for 46% (n = 86) of these cases. A high proportion of Britain's hedgehogs enter rehabilitation centres annually (approximately 5% of the national population and potentially 10% of the urban population), providing a robust basis for assessing the minimum impacts at a national level. We estimate that 4000-7000 hedgehog deaths per year are attributable to plastic, with the true rate likely being higher, since many entangled hedgehogs-in contrast to those involved in road traffic accidents-will not be found. Population modelling indicates that this excess mortality is sufficient to cause population declines. Although the scale of the impact is much lower than that attributable to traffic, it is nevertheless an additional pressure on a species that is already in decline and presents a significant welfare issue to a large number of individuals.

The occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect of plastic pollution in the bay ecosystems

Bay is a unique part of the ecosystem, acting as the intersection for marine and terrestrial systems and hosting diverse biological organisms. The ubiquitous application of plastics has resulted in a massive amount of plastic waste released and accumulated in the bay ecosystem, posing significant ecological effects. Thus, thoroughly understanding plastic pollution's occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect in the bay ecosystems is of vital importance. We conducted a comprehensive review on the sources and distribution of plastics in the bay ecosystem, and the associate ecological effects, from individual toxicity to trophic transfer in ecosystems. Among bay areas around the world, the concentrations of microplastics vary from 0.01 to 3.62 × 10⁵ item/m³ in seawater and 0 to 6.75 × 10⁵ item/kg in sediment. Small-sized plastic particles (mostly <2 mm) were widely reported in bay organisms with the concentration range of 0 to 22.5 item/ind. Besides, the toxicity of plastics on marine organisms has been documented in terms of mortality, growth, development, reproduction, enzyme activity and transcription. Since abundance of small plastic particles (e.g., micro- and nano-scale) is far greater than large plastic debris in the bay ecosystems, in-depth risk assessment of small-sized plastics needs to be conducted under environmentally realistic conditions. Our review could provide a better understanding on the occurrence, speciation, and ecological effect of plastic pollution in the bay ecosystems.

The Role of Fishing Piers in Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) Entanglement

Throughout their range, Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) are one of the most common species to become entangled in fishing gear. We surveyed four piers every other week for one year (6/2019−5/2020) in the Tampa Bay region, FL, USA, to determine frequency of pelican entanglement associated with fishing piers, and explored factors that might influence the rate of entanglement. We conducted a generalized linear model (GLM) to determine the influence that pier, pier closure due to COVID-19, time of day and season, number of anglers, and presence of human behaviors that might attract pelicans to the pier had on the number of entangled pelicans. We conducted 144 surveys and counted 3766 pelicans of which 254 (7%) were entangled. The variables significantly associated (p < 0.05) with entanglement were the pier, time of day, and pier closure status, while the number and behavior of anglers were not significant. The two piers that most significantly influenced the number of entanglements both had extensive perches within 10 m of the fishing pier. The management action most likely to reduce the number of entangled pelicans appears to be deterring pelicans from perching near piers or decreasing fishing near perching structures.

A pandemic-induced environmental dilemma of disposable masks: solutions from the perspective of the life cycle

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has swept the world and still afflicts humans. As an effective means of protection, wearing masks has been widely adopted by the general public. The massive use of disposable masks has raised some emerging environmental and bio-safety concerns: improper handling of used masks may transfer the attached pathogens to environmental media; disposable masks mainly consist of polypropylene (PP) fibers which may aggravate the global plastic pollution; and the risks of long-term wearing of masks are elusive. To maximize the utilization and minimize the risks, efforts have been made to improve the performance of masks (e.g., antivirus properties and filtration efficiency), extend their functions (e.g., respiration monitoring and acting as a sampling device), develop new disinfection methods, and recycle masks. Despite that, from the perspective of the life cycle (from production, usage, and discard to disposal), comprehensive solutions are urgently needed to solve the environmental dilemma of disposable masks in both technologies (e.g., efficient use of raw materials, prolonging the service life, and enabling biodegradation) and policies (e.g., stricter industry criteria and garbage sorting).

What Teachers Should Know for Effective Marine Litter Education: A Scoping Review

Marine litter has had a huge impact on the marine environment and the socio-economic activities that depend on healthy oceans. All members of the community must play their part to address marine litter. Teachers are agents of change that are capable of encouraging pro-environmental practices among the community that will reduce environmental issues, including marine litter. However, teachers were found to have limited knowledge regarding ocean literacy and marine pollution. A scoping review was conducted to identify various aspects of content knowledge related to marine litter education that has been recently conducted for school teachers and students. Web of Science, Scopus and ERIC databases were searched for articles published in English between 2015 and 8 July 2021. Fourteen peer-reviewed articles were selected for this study and were subjected to content analysis. Topics related to marine litter were frequently addressed. Meanwhile, topics related to teaching Environmental Education/Education for Sustainable Development (EE/ESD) were the least addressed. Benthic marine litter, solutions to marine litter and the introduction of new types of marine litter were identified as topics that need to be addressed in future marine litter education. This study lists content knowledge based on previous literature and identified the gaps, which will be useful for teachers to improve their knowledge and implement effective marine litter education in school.