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Ikenoue T, Nakajima R, Osafune S, Siswanto E, Honda MC. Vertical Flux of Microplastics in the Deep Subtropical Pacific Ocean: Moored Sediment-Trap Observations within the Kuroshio Extension Recirculation Gyre. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:16121-16130. [PMID: 39183461 PMCID: PMC11394010 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
The Kuroshio Extension recirculation gyre in the western North Pacific is an accumulation site of plastic litter transported by the Kuroshio Current. A sediment trap was moored at a depth of 4900 m at Station KEO within the Kuroshio Extension recirculation gyre, and the vertical flux of microplastics in sinking particles of size <1 mm was observed. Forty-one sediment-trap samples collected from July 1, 2014, to October 2, 2016, were analyzed with a micro-Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and microplastics were detected in all samples. Seventeen polymer types were identified, and 90% of the microplastics were less than 100 μm in size. Microplastic sinking was driven by the action of the biological pump, which was in turn driven by seasonal variations in solar radiation and increased surface primary production typical of the spring season. Microplastic mass flux varied from 4.5 × 10-3 to 0.38 mg m-2 day-1 during the sampling period, with a mean and standard deviation of 0.054 ± 0.075 mg m-2 day-1. Extrapolating the annual microplastic mass flux at Station KEO to the entire Kuroshio Extension recirculation gyre, it is estimated that 0.028 million metric tons of microplastics are transported annually to 4900 m depth in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Ikenoue
- Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
| | - Ryota Nakajima
- Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
| | - Satoshi Osafune
- Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
| | - Eko Siswanto
- Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
| | - Makio C Honda
- Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
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Nakakuni M, Nishida M, Nishibata R, Kishimoto K, Yamaguchi H, Ichimi K, Ishizuka M, Suenaga Y, Tada K. Convergence zones of coastal waters as hotspots for floating microplastic accumulation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116691. [PMID: 39004057 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116691] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
This study examines microplastic (MP, 1-5 mm) densities in convergence zones in a coastal sea, the Seto Inland Sea, comparing them to those of non-convergence zones and other areas. Notably, Seto convergence zones exhibit MP densities 40 to 300 times higher than non-convergence zones, with an extraordinary density of 3.7 ± 6.3 pieces m-3, similar to densities found in Tokyo Bay as known a MP hotspot. The predominant polymer found was expanded polystyrene, varying seasonally and peaking in summer. Juvenile fish associated with driftweed in these convergence zones face a risk of long-term MP exposure, potentially up to four months. This large number of MPs found in coastal convergence zones is similar to accumulation zones formed in the gyres of open oceans, with strong implications for detrimental effects on coastal marine life. However, these MPs are autochthonous, and may be manageable through local marine plastic waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Nakakuni
- Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Saiwai, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0016, Japan; Clean Ocean Ensemble, Sakate, Shodoshima, Shozu, Kagawa 761-4425, Japan.
| | - Miharu Nishida
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0701, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Nishibata
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0701, Japan
| | - Koji Kishimoto
- Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Saiwai, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0016, Japan
| | - Hitomi Yamaguchi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0701, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ichimi
- Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Saiwai, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0016, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0701, Japan
| | - Masahide Ishizuka
- Faculty of Engineering, Kagawa University, Hayashi, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0396, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Suenaga
- Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Saiwai, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0016, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0701, Japan
| | - Kuninao Tada
- Seto Inland Sea Regional Research Center, Kagawa University, Saiwai, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0016, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa 761-0701, Japan
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Sun XF, Zhang Y, Xie MY, Mai L, Zeng EY. Calcite carbonate sinks low-density plastic debris in open oceans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4837. [PMID: 38844454 PMCID: PMC11156676 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49074-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The vertical settling of plastic debris in oceans is poorly understood. A large share of low-density microplastics (LDMPs) are largely absent from sea surfaces. The present study employs a model that considers the potential of an overlooked microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) process and new motion equations for irregular LDMPs. Here we show that the motion of LDMPs in the present model, exhibiting a damped oscillation pattern, is quite different from that in biofouling models. Furthermore, LDMPs in the size range of 10-200 µm are most likely to gain sufficient density at the biofouling/MICP stage to independently sink to the ocean floor with relatively small drag coefficients, potentially explaining the selective enrichment of LDMPs in the oceanic sediment. The size and shape exhibit strong non-linear effects on the settling patterns of LDMPs. Overall, the present study highlights the importance of calcite-mediated sinking of LDMPs in open oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Fei Sun
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Yanxu Zhang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meng-Yi Xie
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Mai
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China.
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Tsuchiya M, Kitahashi T, Nakajima R, Oguri K, Kawamura K, Nakamura A, Nakano K, Maeda Y, Murayama M, Chiba S, Fujikura K. Distribution of microplastics in bathyal- to hadal-depth sediments and transport process along the deep-sea canyon and the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115466. [PMID: 37806825 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115466] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding microplastic (MP) behavior in oceans is crucial for reducing marine plastic pollution. However, the complex process underlying MP transportation to the deep seafloor remains unknown despite the deep sea being considered its major sink. We focused on MP distribution in Sagami Bay (adjacent to highly populated areas of Japan), the plate triple junction connected through the Sagami Trough, and the abyssal plain immediately below the Kuroshio Extension. We observed the highest number of MPs in the abyssal stations, more than previously reported. The polymer types and aspect ratio of MPs in the abyssal stations significantly differed from those in the bathyal/hadal stations. The study suggests that MPs accumulated in the open ocean surface layer sink to the abyssal plains immediately below it, while MPs from land sources accumulate in the bathyal depth and are transported to the hadal depth near the coast through turbidity currents along the submarine canyon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Tsuchiya
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan.
| | - Tomo Kitahashi
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan; KANSO Technos Co., Ltd., 14 Kandahigashimatsushita-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0042, Japan
| | - Ryota Nakajima
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Oguri
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan; Danish Center for Hadal Research (HADAL) and Nordcee, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Kiichiro Kawamura
- Graduate School of Science and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi-city, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan
| | - Akimu Nakamura
- Graduate School of Science and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi-city, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan
| | - Kengo Nakano
- Graduate School of Science and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi-city, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan
| | - Yosaku Maeda
- Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering Division (MarE3), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - Masafumi Murayama
- Center for Advanced Marine Core Research, Kochi University, Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan
| | - Sanae Chiba
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan; North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, BC, Canada V8L 4B2
| | - Katsunori Fujikura
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
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Omura T, Isobe N, Miura T, Ishii S, Mori M, Ishitani Y, Kimura S, Hidaka K, Komiyama K, Suzuki M, Kasuya KI, Nomaki H, Nakajima R, Tsuchiya M, Kawagucci S, Mori H, Nakayama A, Kunioka M, Kamino K, Iwata T. Microbial decomposition of biodegradable plastics on the deep-sea floor. Nat Commun 2024; 15:568. [PMID: 38278791 PMCID: PMC10817984 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44368-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbes can decompose biodegradable plastics on land, rivers and seashore. However, it is unclear whether deep-sea microbes can degrade biodegradable plastics in the extreme environmental conditions of the seafloor. Here, we report microbial decomposition of representative biodegradable plastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable polyesters, and polysaccharide esters) at diverse deep-sea floor locations ranging in depth from 757 to 5552 m. The degradation of samples was evaluated in terms of weight loss, reduction in material thickness, and surface morphological changes. Poly(L-lactic acid) did not degrade at either shore or deep-sea sites, while other biodegradable polyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and polysaccharide esters were degraded. The rate of degradation slowed with water depth. We analysed the plastic-associated microbial communities by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics. Several dominant microorganisms carried genes potentially encoding plastic-degrading enzymes such as polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerases and cutinases/polyesterases. Analysis of available metagenomic datasets indicated that these microorganisms are present in other deep-sea locations. Our results confirm that biodegradable plastics can be degraded by the action of microorganisms on the deep-sea floor, although with much less efficiency than in coastal settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taku Omura
- Laboratory of Science of Polymeric Materials, Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Isobe
- Research Institute for Marine Resources Utilization, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Takamasa Miura
- Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC), 2-5-8 Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818, Japan
| | - Shun'ichi Ishii
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Mihoko Mori
- Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC), 2-5-8 Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Ishitani
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kimura
- Laboratory of Science of Polymeric Materials, Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kohei Hidaka
- Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC), 2-5-8 Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818, Japan
| | - Katsuya Komiyama
- Laboratory of Science of Polymeric Materials, Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Miwa Suzuki
- Gunma University Center for Food Science and Wellness (GUCFW), Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8510, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Kasuya
- Gunma University Center for Food Science and Wellness (GUCFW), Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8510, Japan
- Green Polymer Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Nomaki
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Ryota Nakajima
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Masashi Tsuchiya
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Kawagucci
- Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mori
- Japan BioPlastics Association (JBPA), 5-11 Nihonbashi Hakozaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0015, Japan
| | - Atsuyoshi Nakayama
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka, 563-8577, Japan
| | - Masao Kunioka
- Standardization Promotion Office, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8560, Japan
| | - Kei Kamino
- Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC), 2-5-8 Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818, Japan
| | - Tadahisa Iwata
- Laboratory of Science of Polymeric Materials, Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
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6
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Duncan EM, Vieira N, González-Irusta JM, Dominguez-Carrió C, Morato T, Carreiro-Silva M, Jakobsen J, Jakobsen K, Porteiro F, Schläpfer N, Herrera L, Ramos M, Rodríguez Y, Pereira JM, Fauconnet L, Rodrigues L, Parra H, Pham CK. Predicting the distribution and abundance of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in the deep sea of the Azores (North Atlantic). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:166579. [PMID: 37652373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), represents a significant percentage of the global plastic pollution, currently considered one of the major sources from sea-based activities. However, there is still limited understanding of the quantities of ALDFG present on the seafloor and their impacts. In this study, data on the presence of ALDFG was obtained from a large archive of seafloor video footage (351 dives) collected by different imaging platforms in the Azores region over 15 years (2006-2020). Most ALDFG items observed in the images relate to the local bottom longline fishery operating in the region, and include longlines but also anchors, weights, cables and buoys. A generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) was used to predict the distribution and abundance of ALDFG over the seafloor within the limits of the Azores Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using a suite of environmental and anthropogenic variables. We estimated an average of 113 ± 310 items km-2 (597 ± 756 per km-2 above 1000 m depth), which could imply that over 20 million ALDFG items are present on the deep seafloor of the Azores EEZ. The resulting model identified potential hotspots of ALDFG along the seabed, some of them located over sensitive benthic habitats, such as specific seamounts. In addition, the interactions between ALDFG and benthic organisms were also analysed. Numerous entanglements were observed with several species of large anthozoans and sponges. The use of predictive distribution modelling for ALDFG should be regarded as a useful tool to support ecosystem-based management, which can provide indirect information about fishing pressure and allow the identification of potential high-risk areas. Additional knowledge about the sources, amounts, fates and impacts of ALDFG will be key to address the global issue of plastic pollution and the effects of fishing on marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Duncan
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Nina Vieira
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | | | - Carlos Dominguez-Carrió
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Telmo Morato
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Marina Carreiro-Silva
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | | | | | - Filipe Porteiro
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Nina Schläpfer
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Laura Herrera
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Manuela Ramos
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Yasmina Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - João M Pereira
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Laurence Fauconnet
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Luís Rodrigues
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Hugo Parra
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Christopher K Pham
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal.
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7
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Abel SM, Wu F, Primpke S, Gerdts G, Brandt A. Journey to the deep: plastic pollution in the hadal of deep-sea trenches. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122078. [PMID: 37379878 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The global increase of plastic production, linked with an overall plastic misuse and waste mismanagement, leads to an inevitable increase of plastic debris that ends up in our oceans. One of the major sinks of this pollution is the deep-sea floor, which is hypothesized to accumulate in its deepest points, the hadal trenches. Little is known about the magnitude of pollution in these trenches, given the remoteness of these environments, numerous factors influencing the input and sinking behavior of plastic debris from shallower environments. This study represents to the best of our knowledge the largest survey of (macro)plastic debris sampled at hadal depths, down to 9600 m. Industrial packaging and material assignable to fishing activities were the most common debris items in the Kuril Kamchatka trench, most likely deriving from long-distance transport by the Kuroshio extension current (KE) or from regional marine traffic and fishing activities. The chemical analysis by (Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the main polymers detected were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and nylon. Plastic waste is reaching the depths of the trench, although some of the items were only partially broken down. This finding suggests that complete breakdown into secondary microplastics (MP) may not always occur at the sea surface or though the water column. Due to increased brittleness, plastic debris may break apart upon reaching the hadal trench floor where plastic degrading factors were thought to be, coming off. The KKT's remote location and high sedimentation rates make it a potential site for high levels of plastic pollution, potentially making it one of the world's most heavily contaminated marine areas and an oceanic plastic deposition zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena M Abel
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum; Department of Marine Zoology, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498, Helgoland, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Environmental Sciences, Man-Society-Environment Program, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Fangzhu Wu
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Angelika Brandt
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum; Department of Marine Zoology, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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8
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Goldstone JV, Lamb DC, Kelly SL, Lepesheva GI, Stegeman JJ. Structural modeling of cytochrome P450 51 from a deep-sea fish points to a novel structural feature in other CYP51s. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 245:112241. [PMID: 37209461 PMCID: PMC10330650 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cytochromes P450 (CYP), enzymes involved in the metabolism of endogenous and xenobiotic substrates, provide an excellent model system to study how membrane proteins with unique functions have catalytically adapted through evolution. Molecular adaptation of deep-sea proteins to high hydrostatic pressure remains poorly understood. Herein, we have characterized recombinant cytochrome P450 sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), an essential enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis, from an abyssal fish species, Coryphaenoides armatus. C. armatus CYP51 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli following N-terminal truncation and purified to homogeneity. Recombinant C. armatus CYP51 bound its sterol substrate lanosterol giving a Type I binding spectra (KD 15 μM) and catalyzed lanosterol 14α-demethylation turnover at 5.8 nmol/min/nmol P450. C. armatus CYP51 also bound the azole antifungals ketoconazole (KD 0.12 μM) and propiconazole (KD 0.54 μM) as determined by Type II absorbance spectra. Comparison of C. armatus CYP51 primary sequence and modeled structures with other CYP51s identified amino acid substitutions that may confer an ability to function under pressures of the deep sea and revealed heretofore undescribed internal cavities in human and other non-deep sea CYP51s. The functional significance of these cavities is not known. PROLOGUE: This paper is dedicated in memory of Michael Waterman and Tsuneo Omura, who as good friends and colleagues enriched our lives. They continue to inspire us.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared V Goldstone
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - David C Lamb
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Steven L Kelly
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John J Stegeman
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
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9
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Viejo J, Cózar A, Quintana R, Martí E, Markelain G, Cabrera-Castro R, Arroyo GM, Montero E, Morales-Caselles C. Artisanal trawl fisheries as a sentinel of marine litter pollution. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114882. [PMID: 37054479 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Systematic seafloor surveys are a highly desirable method of marine litter monitoring, but the high costs involved in seafloor sampling are not a trivial handicap. In the present work, we explore the opportunity provided by the artisanal trawling fisheries to obtain systematic data on marine litter in the Gulf of Cadiz between 2019 and 2021. We find that plastic was the most frequent material, with a prevalence of single-use and fishing-related items. Litter densities decreased with increasing distance to shore with a seasonal migration of the main litter hotspots. During pre-lockdown and post-lockdown stages derived from COVID-19, marine litter density decreased by 65 %, likely related to the decline in tourism and outdoor recreational activities. A continuous collaboration of 33 % of the local fleet would imply a removal of hundreds of thousands of items each year. The artisanal trawl fishing sector can play a unique role of monitoring marine litter on the seabed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Viejo
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | - Andrés Cózar
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain
| | - Rocío Quintana
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain
| | - Elisa Martí
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain
| | - Gorka Markelain
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | - Remedios Cabrera-Castro
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | - Gonzalo M Arroyo
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | | | - Carmen Morales-Caselles
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain.
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10
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Cuvelier D, Ramalho SP, Purser A, Haeckel M. Impact of returning scientific cruises and prolonged on-site presence on litter abundance at the deep-sea nodule fields in the Peru Basin. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114162. [PMID: 36174254 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114162] [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: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter can be found along coasts, continental shelves and slopes, down into the abyss. The absence of light, low temperatures and low energy regimes characterising the deeper habitats ensure the persistence of litter over time. Therefore, manmade items within the deep sea will likely accumulate to increasing quantities. Here we report the litter abundance encountered at the Pacific abyssal nodule fields from the Peru Basin at 4150 m depth. An average density of 2.67 litter items/ha was observed. Litter composed of plastic was the most abundant followed by metal and glass. At least 58 % of the items observed could be linked to the research expeditions conducted in the area and appeared to be mostly accidental disposals from ships. The data gathered was used to address temporal trends in litter abundance as well as the impact of human on-site presence and return cruises in the context of future deep-sea mining efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Cuvelier
- Institute of Marine Sciences - Okeanos, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal.
| | - Sofia P Ramalho
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Autun Purser
- Alfred Wegener Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
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11
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Abel SM, Primpke S, Wu F, Brandt A, Gerdts G. Human footprints at hadal depths: interlayer and intralayer comparison of sediment cores from the Kuril Kamchatka trench. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156035. [PMID: 35598673 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution affects almost all ecosystems on Earth. Given the increasing plastic production worldwide and the durability of these polymers, concerns arise about the fate of this material in the environment. A candidate to consider as a depositional final sink of MP is the sea floor and its deepest representatives, hadal trenches, as ultimate sinks. In this study, 13 sediment samples were collected with a multiple-corer at depths between 5740 and 9450 m from the Kuril Kamchatka trench (KKT), in the Northwest (NW) Pacific Ocean. These samples were analysed for MP presence in the upper sediment layer, by slicing the first 5 cm of sediment cores into 1 cm horizontal layers. These were compared against each other and between the sampling areas, in order to achieve a detailed picture of the depositional system of the trench and small-scale perturbations such as bioturbation. The analyses revealed the presence of 215 to 1596 MP particles per kg -1 sediment (dry weight), with a polymer composition represented by 14 polymer types and the prevalence of particles smaller than 25 μm. A heterogeneous microplastic distribution through the sediment column and different microplastic concentration and polymer types among sampling stations located in different areas of the trench reflects the dynamics of this environment and the numerous forces that drive the deposition processes and the in situ recast of this pollutant at the trench floor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena M Abel
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Department of Marine Zoology, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Fangzhu Wu
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Angelika Brandt
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Department of Marine Zoology, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
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12
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Lebreton L, Royer SJ, Peytavin A, Strietman WJ, Smeding-Zuurendonk I, Egger M. Industrialised fishing nations largely contribute to floating plastic pollution in the North Pacific subtropical gyre. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12666. [PMID: 36050351 PMCID: PMC9436981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16529-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The subtropical oceanic gyre in the North Pacific Ocean is currently covered with tens of thousands of tonnes of floating plastic debris, dispersed over millions of square kilometres. A large fraction is composed of fishing nets and ropes while the rest is mostly composed of hard plastic objects and fragments, sometimes carrying evidence on their origin. In 2019, an oceanographic mission conducted in the area, retrieved over 6000 hard plastic debris items > 5 cm. The debris was later sorted, counted, weighed, and analysed for evidence of origin and age. Our results, complemented with numerical model simulations and findings from a previous oceanographic mission, revealed that a majority of the floating material stems from fishing activities. While recent assessments for plastic inputs into the ocean point to coastal developing economies and rivers as major contributors into oceanic plastic pollution, here we show that most floating plastics in the North Pacific subtropical gyre can be traced back to five industrialised fishing nations, highlighting the important role the fishing industry plays in the solution to this global issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Lebreton
- The Ocean Cleanup, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. .,The Modelling House, Raglan, New Zealand.
| | | | | | | | | | - Matthias Egger
- The Ocean Cleanup, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Egger Research and Consulting, St Gallen, Switzerland
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13
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Isobe A, Iwasaki S. The fate of missing ocean plastics: Are they just a marine environmental problem? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:153935. [PMID: 35192833 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The fate of mismanaged plastic waste released into oceans (ocean plastics) remains a topic of debate, where the mass imbalance between the leakage and abundance in the world's oceans appears paradoxical. In the present study, a budget for ocean plastic mass was estimated based on a combination of numerical particle tracking and linear mass-balance models, both validated using a worldwide ocean plastic dataset. Integrating the time series of worldwide macroplastic emission from both rivers and the fisheries industry over the period 1961-2017 yielded a total mass of 25.3 million metric tonnes (MMT). Macro- and microplastics currently floating in the oceans, and microplastics on beaches, each account for 3-4% of the ocean plastics emitted worldwide to date. Overall, 23.4% of ocean plastics were macroplastics on beaches. Meanwhile, 66.7% of ocean plastics were heavier than seawater or microplastics removed from the upper ocean and beaches, which are difficult to monitor under current observation frameworks adopted worldwide. However, the present study on ocean plastics suggested that the whole ocean plastics accounted for only 4.7% of mismanaged plastic waste (542.2 MMT) generated between the 1960s and today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuhiko Isobe
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Shinsuke Iwasaki
- Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region, Public Works Research Institute, 1-3-1-34 Toyohira, Sapporo 062-8602, Japan.
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14
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Fujieda S, Hoshika A, Hashimoto E, Sasakura S, Shimizu T, Okumura M. Standing stock and mass balance of marine litter in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112923. [PMID: 34526265 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112923] [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: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The basin of Seto Inland Sea has a population of 31 million people. The standing stock and mass balance of marine litter in this area was estimated using rapid assessment for beach litter, questionnaire surveys on removed amounts of marine litter, and existing data. The mass balance of marine litter was explained by using a single box model, assuming complete mixing and uniform density. If the standing stock of drifting and beach litter combined was 3400 tons, the inflow of litter from rivers was 3000 tons/year, generation of litter at sea was 1200 tons/year, and inflow from the open sea was 300 tons/year. The amount of marine litter removed from the beach and sea surface was 1400 tons/year, outflow to the open sea was 2400 tons/year, and deposition on the sea bottom was 700 tons/year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Fujieda
- Regional Co-creation Center for Industry and Society, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 8900065, Japan.
| | - Akira Hoshika
- Institute of Geological and Geoinformation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Higashihiroshima 7390046, Japan
| | - Eisuke Hashimoto
- Institute of Geological and Geoinformation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Higashihiroshima 7390046, Japan
| | | | - Takanori Shimizu
- Association for the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea, Kobe 6510073, Japan
| | - Masataka Okumura
- Association for the Environmental Conservation of the Seto Inland Sea, Kobe 6510073, Japan
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