1
|
Bertin S, Rubio A, Hernández-Carrasco I, Solabarrieta L, Ruiz I, Orfila A, Sentchev A. Coastal current convergence structures in the Bay of Biscay from optimized high-frequency radar and satellite data. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174372. [PMID: 38960183 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The southeastern Bay of Biscay has been described as a "dead end" for floating marine litter, often accumulating along small-scale linear streaks. Coastal Current Convergence Structures (CCS), often associated with vertical motions at river plume edges, estuarine fronts, or other physical processes, can be at the origin of the accumulation. Understanding the formation of CCS and their role in the transport of marine litter is essential to better quantify and to help mitigate marine litter pollution. The Lagrangian framework, used to estimate the absolute dispersion, and the finite-size Lyapunov exponents (FSLE), have proved very effective for identifying CCS in the current velocity field. However, the quality of CCS identification depends strongly on the Eulerian fields. Two surface current velocity data sets were used in the analysis: the remotely sensed velocities from the EuskOOS High-Frequency Radar (HFR) network and velocities from three-dimensional model outputs. They were complemented by drifting buoy velocity measurements. An optimization method, involving the fusion of drifting buoys and HFR velocities is proposed to better reconstruct the fine-scale structure of the current velocity field. Merging these two sources of velocity data reduced the mean Lagrangian error and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) by 50 % and 30 % respectively, significantly improving velocity reconstruction. FSLE ridgelines obtained from the Lagrangian analysis of optimized velocities were compared with remotely sensed concentrations of Chlorophyll-a. It was shown that ridgelines control the spatial distribution of phytoplankton. They fundamentally represent the CCS which can potentially affect marine litter aggregation. Analysis of the absolute dispersion revealed large stirring in the alongshore direction which was also confirmed by spatial distribution of FSLE ridgelines. The alignment between FSLE ridgelines and patterns of high Chlorophyll-a concentration was observed, often determining the limits of river plume expansion in the study area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Bertin
- Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, LOG, UMR 8187, Wimereux, France; AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain.
| | - A Rubio
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | | | - L Solabarrieta
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - I Ruiz
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - A Orfila
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançat (IMEDEA), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - A Sentchev
- Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, LOG, UMR 8187, Wimereux, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Garrard SL, Clark JR, Martin N, Nelms SE, Botterell ZLR, Cole M, Coppock RL, Galloway TS, Green DS, Jones M, Lindeque PK, Tillin HM, Beaumont NJ. Identifying potential high-risk zones for land-derived plastic litter to marine megafauna and key habitats within the North Atlantic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171282. [PMID: 38412875 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171282] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Garrard
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
| | - James R Clark
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Martin
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Nelms
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Zara L R Botterell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Cole
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel L Coppock
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Jones
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
| | - Pennie K Lindeque
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Heidi M Tillin
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Campillo A, Almeda R, Vianello A, Gómez M, Martínez I, Navarro A, Herrera A. Searching for hotspots of neustonic microplastics in the Canary Islands. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115057. [PMID: 37201348 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the concentration, distribution, and characteristics of neustonic MPs in the Canary Islands, with a particular focus on the island leeward zones, where a high accumulation of floating marine microplastics is expected. Samples were collected with a manta net at 15 different sites from Alegranza to La Gomera during the IMPLAMAC expedition. The microplastic concentration in surface waters ranged from 0.27 MPs/m3 in Alegranza to 136.7 MPs/m3 in the south of Gran Canaria. The highest concentration of MPs found was due to the presence of a sea-surface slick, also called "marine litter windrow", formed in the south of Gran Canaria. The most abundant zooplankton group in the neuston was copepods, except at the marine litter windrow where fish larvae and eggs predominated. This indicates that coastal areas where marine litter windrows are formed have a high risk of MP ingestion and potential adverse effects on biota.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Campillo
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Almeda
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Alvise Vianello
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark
| | - May Gómez
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ico Martínez
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Alberto Navarro
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Alicia Herrera
- Marine Ecophysiology Group (EOMAR), IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tanaka K, Takahashi Y, Kajiwara T, Matsukami H, Kuramochi H, Osako M, Suzuki G. Identification and quantification of additive-derived chemicals in beached micro-mesoplastics and macroplastics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114438. [PMID: 36473243 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114438] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Although marine plastic debris are expected to retain various chemical additives, little is known about the additives that are retained. We conducted a screening analysis of additives in 261 macroplastic and micro-mesoplastic debris from two beaches. We detected 52 chemicals-antioxidants, phthalates, ultraviolet stabilizers, hindered amine light stabilizers, and flame retardants-and quantified the concentrations of 15 of them. Comparison of the concentrations of Irgafos 168, an antioxidant stabilizer, among sample categories indicated that leaching had occurred from micro-mesoplastics. Differences in diffusion rates between polymer types may explain faster leaching from polyethylene than polypropylene. The significant amounts of Irgafos 168 retained in even micro-mesoplastics indicated the importance of plastics as a vector of additives. This study provides fundamental data needed to assess the risks to organisms from exposure to plastic additives and to understand the effect of stabilizers on the aging behavior of marine plastics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Tanaka
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Yusuke Takahashi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Takehiro Kajiwara
- Yamaguchi Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environment, Yamaguchi 753-0871, Japan
| | - Hidenori Matsukami
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kuramochi
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Masahiro Osako
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Go Suzuki
- Material Cycles Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| |
Collapse
|