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De Michelis S, Pietrelli L, Battisti C, Carosi M. First evidence of plastics in coypu (Myocastor coypus)'s platforms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34084-1. [PMID: 38965107 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34084-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Platforms are structures built by coypus for various purposes, such as reproduction, resting, and thermoregulation. In a coastal wetland of central Italy, during a study aimed at investigating the characteristics of coypu's platforms, it was recorded, for the first time worldwide, the presence of plastic in these structures. Through a transect survey, we censused 83 platforms, among which three (3.61%) were found with presence of macro- and megaplastics (polystyrene, polypropylene, and low-density polyethylene in film form; polyester, polyamide, and expanded polystyrene in fragments). Through the FTIR spectra, it was possible to highlight the degradation of the polymeric materials. To stimulate possible in-depth investigations at the level of the food chain (e.g., coypu predators, including canids) in wet habitats, we discussed possible causes and implications of plastic presence in coypus' nest structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Michelis
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Loris Pietrelli
- Legambiente, Scientific Committee, Via Salaria 403, 00199, Rome, Italy.
| | - Corrado Battisti
- Protected Areas Service, "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana Di Roma, Via G. Ribotta 41, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Carosi
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Università Di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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2
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Vlachogianni T, Scoullos M. Baseline assessment of macrolitter on the coastline of Algeria: Fit-for-purpose data for tailor-made measures to navigate the Plasticene Age. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116646. [PMID: 38936004 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Curbing the growing threat of marine litter requires reliable, coherent and fit-for-purpose data. The present study reports the findings of beach macrolitter surveys carried out in seventeen sites along the coastline of Algeria. The median litter density recorded along these sites amounted to 578 items per 100 m of coastline (range: 317-2684 items/100 m). Every surveyed beach exceeded the European threshold value of 20 items per 100 m of coastline by a significant margin. In addition, the evaluation conducted employing the Mediterranean threshold value of 130 items per 100 m of coastline indicated that each of the seventeen surveyed beaches resides within the non-Good Environmental Status spectrum. A significant proportion of the litter, accounting for 43 %, is attributed to food and beverage consumption-related items, highlighting the impact of single-use food packaging, including food and beverage containers resulting from unsustainable practices mainly by beach users and inadequate waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomais Vlachogianni
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), Athens, Greece.
| | - Michael Scoullos
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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3
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Battisti C, Cesarini G, Gallitelli L, Moretti F, Scalici M. Anthropogenic litter in a Mediterranean coastal wetland: A heterogeneous spatial pattern of historical deposition. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116163. [PMID: 38401392 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116163] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Coastal wetlands represent areas that can testify historical accumulation of litter. We analyzed the anthropogenic litter deposited on the channel bottom of a coastal wetland area that experienced water stress due to extreme summer dryness after about 20 years. We hypothesize that the litter accumulated in the different areas over the years reflects the different social user categories (i.e., fishermen, beach users, hunters) and exposure to meteo-marine events. Our findings highlight that historically accumulated litter is composed of plastics (78.8 %), clothes (8.9 %), and glass (4.9 %). Moreover, litter concentration averages 53.6 items/ha in the 8 sectors. The most found categories were common household items (25.4 %), diverse (professional and consumer) items (24.2 %), and food and beverages packaging (21.4 %). Finally, litter diversity indices and the Detrended Correspondence Analysis showed sector and litter type similarities. We reported for the first time the presence of litter accumulated for 20 years testifying non-more occurring recreational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Battisti
- 'Torre Flavia' LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Italy
| | - Giulia Cesarini
- National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania, Italy
| | - Luca Gallitelli
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Filippo Moretti
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Agrifood Sustainability, Quality and Safety Laboratory BIOAG-PROBIO, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Santa Maria di Galeria (RM), Italy
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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4
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Taurozzi D, Cesarini G, Scalici M. Diatom and macroinvertebrate communities dynamic: A co-occurrence pattern analysis on plastic substrates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169071. [PMID: 38049005 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169071] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands are habitats that provide numerous ecosystem services, but are often understudied and threatened by anthropogenic pollution, particularly plastic pollution. Macroplastics are a significant component of plastic litter that have high biological impacts but are often understudied. Previous studies have highlighted negative impacts on biota, but there is a lack of information about the communities of micro and macro organisms that settle on macroplastic litter. In this context, we investigated the colonization patterns and community structures of diatoms and macroinvertebrates on virgin substrates composed of two different plastic polymers, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate, located at two different depths in a protected wetland in Central Italy over a period of 10 months. The results show that diatom community is not highly structured by competitive forces and aggregation patterns emerges. In contrast, macroinvertebrate community appears to be randomly structured, without the presence of patterns following specific assembly rules. Randomness in macroinvertebrates assemblages could highlight the presence of different niches available for settlement of different taxa. Combined matrix analyses show that diatoms and macroinvertebrates co-occur, and their community assemblages are sometimes structured, while they appeared to be randomly assembled at other times. Whenever non-randomness of diatoms and macroinvertebrates co-occurrences was detected, it suggested aggregation. Moreover, the possible predatory relationship between different macroinvertebrates taxa should be investigated, as it could reveal important scenarios in the establishment of macroinvertebrate structured communities on plastic litter, including taxa that exploit different ecological niches. This could lead to an enrichment of the biological community within areas impacted by plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Taurozzi
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy; National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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5
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Gallitelli L, D'Agostino M, Battisti C, Cózar A, Scalici M. Dune plants as a sink for beach litter: The species-specific role and edge effect on litter entrapment by plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166756. [PMID: 37659519 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166756] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic litter accumulates along coasts worldwide. In addition to the flowing litter load, wind, sea currents, geomorphology and vegetation determine the distribution of litter trapped on the sandy coasts. Although some studies highlighted the role of dune plants in trapping marine litter, little is known about their efficiency as sinks and about the small-scale spatial distribution of litter across the dune area. Here, we explore these gaps by analysing six plant species widespread in Mediterranean coastal habitats, namely Echinophora spinosa, Limbarda crithmoides, Anthemis maritima, Pancratium maritimum, Thinopyrum junceum, and Salsola kali. The present study analyses for the first time the capture of litter by dune vegetation at a multi-species level, considering their morphological structure. Data on plastic accumulation on dune plants were compared with unvegetated control plots located at embryo-dune and foredune belts. We found that dunal plants mainly entrapped macrolitter (> 0.5 cm). Particularly, E. spinosa, L. crithmoides, A. maritima and P. maritimum mostly accumulated litter in the embryo dune while T. junceum and S. kali entrapped more in the foredune area. Moreover, beach litter was mainly blocked at the edge of the plant patches rather than in the core, highlighting the 'Plant-edge litter effect'. As A. maritima and S. kali entrapped respectively more litter in embryo and foredune habitats, these species could be used to monitor and recollect litter. In this light, our findings provide further insight into the role of dune plants in the beach litter dynamics, suppling useful information for beach clean-up actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Martina D'Agostino
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Corrado Battisti
- "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Servizio Aree Protette, Via G. Ribotta, 41, 00144 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrés Cózar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Marine Research (INMAR), University of Cádiz, European University of the Seas, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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6
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Battisti C, Fanelli G, Gallitelli L, Scalici M. Dunal plants as sink for anthropogenic marine litter: The entrapping role of Salsola kali L. (1753) in a Mediterranean remote beach (Sardinia, Italy). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115033. [PMID: 37182241 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The ability to retain anthropogenic marine litter by a halo-psammophilous plant formation dominated by a single prostrate species (Salsola kali) on a Sardinian beach was measured. We hypothesized that the anthropogenic litter (i) is trapped by plants to a greater extent than in control areas, and (ii) has more elongated size, mimicking the organic Posidonia wrack, largely occurring locally as 'banquettes'. Salsola kali patches show an apparently higher anthropogenic litter density than control sites without vegetation. Salsola kali plants trap litter items significantly longer and a larger number of size length categories than control plots. These effects may be due to the prostrate structure of the plant with small thorns at the apex. Also, litter entrapped by plants can interfere with the mechanisms of dune deposition and structuration, in turn affecting food chains by decreasing the availability of organic material for pedofauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Battisti
- "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Servizio Aree protette - parchi regionali, Viale G. Ribotta 41, 00144 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuliano Fanelli
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome Sapienza, Italy.
| | - Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
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7
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Aguilera MA, Rojas A, Bulleri F, Thiel M. Breakwaters as habitats for synanthropes: Spatial associations of vertebrates and vegetation with anthropogenic litter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160753. [PMID: 36513231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160753] [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: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban infrastructures can provide 'novel' habitats for marine and terrestrial animals and plants, enhancing their ability to adapt to urban environments. In particular, coastal infrastructures characterized by a complex three-dimensional morphology, such as breakwaters, could provide species refuges and food. We investigated the role of breakwaters in providing habitat for vertebrates and plants, and the influence of anthropogenic litter in regulating the value of these structures as habitat. We sampled vertebrate and plant species and quantified the amount of anthropogenic litter on breakwaters and adjacent rocky habitats at several sites in three different countries (Italy, Spain and Chile). We found breakwaters to accumulate more litter items (e.g. especially plastics) than adjacent rocky habitats by means of their large-scale (i.e., 1 m) structural complexity. Birds, which used the artificial infrastructure as transitory habitat, reached similar abundances in breakwaters compared with adjacent rocky platforms. In contrast, synanthropic mammal species, such as Rattus norvegicus and feral cats, were slightly more frequent on breakwaters and appeared to use them as permanent habitat. Plants were frequent in the upper zone of breakwaters and, even though many macrophyte species can trap litter, their cover correlated negatively with anthropogenic litter density. Therefore, breakwaters provide either transitory or permanent habitats for different species, despite functioning as a sink for anthropogenic litter. Thus, new infrastructure should be designed with lower structural complexity in their supralittoral zone limiting the proliferation of synanthropic species. In addition, restricting public access to sensitive areas and enforcing littering fines could enhance the ecological value of these novel habitats by reducing the benefits to pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés A Aguilera
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Diagonal Las Torres, 2640 Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Ariel Rojas
- Departamento de Calidad y Laboratorio, Empresa AQUADEUS S.L. Crta. El ballestero, Km. 2, 02340 Robledo, Albacete, Spain
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martin Thiel
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo, 1281 Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
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8
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Gallitelli L, Battisti C, Scalici M. Dunal plants intercepting macrolitter: Implications for beach clean-ups. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114585. [PMID: 36638716 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coastal vegetation intercepts macroplastics and, consequently, it may represent a reservoir of anthropogenic litter and organic wrack. We aimed at investigating (i) the abundance variation of macrolitter from the beach to foredune and backdune (three cross-shore plots over 20 long-shore sectors) and (ii) the role of the halo-psammophilous plants and Phragmites australis reedbed in intercepting the macrolitter, respectively, in the foredunes and backdunes. The vegetation in the foredunes (mainly halo-psammophilous species) acted as a first interception belt for macrolitter, while the bigger litter reached the backdunes. Our results might be of great concern with implications for beach clean-ups - which must also be mainly focused in foredunes and backdunes, however warning operators in advance that they could damage the vegetation by trampling on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Corrado Battisti
- "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected Areas Service, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Rome, Italy.
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9
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Bearzi G, Bonizzoni S, Fanesi F, Tenan S, Battisti C. Seabirds pecking polystyrene items in offshore Adriatic Sea waters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:8338-8346. [PMID: 36414893 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24290-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A number of seabird species have been known to peck, displace, and ingest various plastic items including expanded polystyrene, for reasons that remain largely conjectural. Ingestion of polystyrene parts potentially causes lethal or sublethal effects on birds. Pecking can also result in the damage of polystyrene items, resulting in increased market turnover and environmental build-up, or economic consequences for stakeholders. In January and February, 2022, fishers in a portion of the western Adriatic Sea coast reported pecking damage caused by gulls (Laridae) to polystyrene buoys used to float, signal, and retrieve static fishing nets and traps. We investigated the magnitude of this phenomenon in four fishing harbours of Italy by scoring damage to 470 buoys and interviewing 29 fishers (encompassing 42% of the relevant fleet). Information was complemented by opportunistic observations at sea. Our preliminary assessment suggests that offshore polystyrene pecking increases in winter months, and it occurs sporadically among years. The overall economic damage to the static net fishery appeared generally modest (approximately 3-4 Euro to replace one buoy), with wide variations in the extent of reported damage. We reviewed the hypotheses behind polystyrene pecking, but none of them provide a clear explanation for the observed behaviour. Finally, we discuss potential effects on seabirds and advocate monitoring to investigate causal factors and mitigate damage to seabirds, fisheries, and marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Bearzi
- Dolphin Biology and Conservation, Via Cellina 5, 33084, Cordenons, PN, Italy.
- OceanCare, Gerbestrasse 6, CH-8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland.
- ISMAR Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR National Research Council, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy.
| | - Silvia Bonizzoni
- Dolphin Biology and Conservation, Via Cellina 5, 33084, Cordenons, PN, Italy
- OceanCare, Gerbestrasse 6, CH-8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | | | - Simone Tenan
- ISMAR Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR National Research Council, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Corrado Battisti
- Torre Flavia' LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected Area Service, Città Metropolitana Di Roma, Via G. Ribotta 41, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Cesarano C, Aulicino G, Cerrano C, Ponti M, Puce S. Marine beach litter monitoring strategies along Mediterranean coasts. A methodological review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114401. [PMID: 36462417 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114401] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Marine beach litter (MBL) represents a serious issue for marine life, coastal ecosystems, human health and several economical activities. The Mediterranean Sea is a semi enclosed basin particularly vulnerable to this problem. Its coasts are threatened by critical anthropogenic pressures that sum up with intensive fishing and shipping, and the slow turnover of its waters. In the last decades, several scientific and participative initiatives have been conducted to study, monitor and clean-up shorelines. These studies were generally characterized by differences in timing and frequency of the surveys, as well as in litter sampling, classification and analysis. This paper presents a systematic review of current literature concerning MBL monitoring strategies along the Mediterranean coasts. Scopus indexed studies are analysed to identify discrepancies and similarities among the applied protocols, understand where current gaps lie, and point out what would be needed to develop a basin-scale efficient monitoring for the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cesarano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aulicino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli studi di Napoli Parthenope, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Reef Check Italia onlus, Ancona, Italy; Fano Marine Center, Fano, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Ponti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Ravenna, Italy; Reef Check Italia onlus, Ancona, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Roma, Italy
| | - Stefania Puce
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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11
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Gallitelli L, Battisti C, Pietrelli L, Scalici M. Anthropogenic particles in coypu (Myocastor coypus; Mammalia, Rodentia)' faeces: first evidence and considerations about their use as track for detecting microplastic pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:55293-55301. [PMID: 35665886 PMCID: PMC9356950 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21032-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic plastic litter is widespread in all environments, with particular emphasis on aquatic habitats. Specifically, although freshwater mammals are important as they are at the top of food web, research mainly focus on marine animals, while only few studies have been carried out on freshwater mammals. The main gap is that microplastics (MP) are completely understudied in freshwater mammals. Here, we reported the first evidence of the presence of anthropogenic particles (including MP) in coypu (Myocastor coypus)' faeces. Coypu is a rodent mammal inhabiting rivers and wetland areas, and we discussed our preliminary data suggesting the use of these tracks as possible future bioindicator of MP pollution in wetlands and freshwaters. We collected 30 coypu's faeces in "Torre Flavia wetland" nature reserve. Then, in laboratory, faeces were digested in 30 ml hydrogen peroxide (30%) for a week a 20 °C and analysed under stereoscope. All the suspected found MP were isolated in a petri dish, using FT-IR analysis to confirm the polymers. Overall, we recorded 444 natural and anthropogenic particles with most of items being fibres. FT-IR analysis of the 10% of the particles recovered revealed that 72% of them was not MP (mainly, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyamide). Also, the number of anthropogenic particles is not correlated with the faecal weight. Given that alien species, such as coypu, are widespread species, our results might have a great importance as these species and MP in faecal tracks may be used as undirect proxy of environmental bioavailability of MP pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Corrado Battisti
- 'Torre Flavia' LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected Areas Service, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Rome, Italy
| | - Loris Pietrelli
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
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12
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Andriolo U, Gonçalves G. Is coastal erosion a source of marine litter pollution? Evidence of coastal dunes being a reservoir of plastics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113307. [PMID: 35090292 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113307] [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: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This baseline reports scientific evidence of marine litter items embedded in the dune volume at two study sites on the North Atlantic Portuguese coast. We described how stranded litter participate in the sand dune growth/erosion processes on a natural beach-dune system. From the storm-eroded foredunes on the urbanized beach, we documented exhumed plastics with age up to 38 years. Whether litter burial was due to beach-dune morphodynamic processes, or to irresponsible and/or illegal dumping in the past, this work emphasises the need of improving buried litter census and monitoring on coastal dunes. Coastal erosion processes may further exhume litter buried in dune volumes and on other coastal environments over short- and long-term, re-exposing items into the marine environment. Thus, coastal erosion can be accounted as a secondary diffuse source of littering pollution, beside the multiple sources already identified in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Andriolo
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Gil Gonçalves
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Mathematics, Apartado 3008, EC Santa Cruz, 3001 - 501 Coimbra, Portugal.
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13
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Fanini L, Defeo O, Elliott M, Paragkamian S, Pinna M, Salvo VS. Coupling beach ecology and macroplastics litter studies: Current trends and the way ahead. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112951. [PMID: 34534931 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112951] [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: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As sites of floating marine material deposition, sandy beaches accumulate marine litter. While research and assessment on beach litter is increasing and involves various actors (scientists, society and NGOs), there is the need to assess current and future dominant trends, directions and priorities in that research. As such, a textural co-occurrence analysis was applied to published scientific literature. Words were considered both singly and as part of compound terms related to concepts relevant to sandy beach ecology: morphodynamic state; Littoral Active Zone; indicator fauna. Litter as a compound term was also included. The main co-occurrences were found within compounds, with scarce interaction of "morphodynamic state" with the others, indicating the need for further integration of beach ecology paradigms into beached plastics studies. Three approaches are proposed to overcome the research limits highlighted: the unequivocation of terms, the consideration of adequate scales, and the attention to dynamics rather than just patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Fanini
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
| | - Omar Defeo
- UNDECIMAR, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Michael Elliott
- Department of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK; International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists Ltd, Leven, Beverley, UK
| | - Savvas Paragkamian
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maurizio Pinna
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, DiSTeBA, University of Salento, S.P. Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Research Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Aquatina di Frigole, DiSTeBA, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
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