In search for the sources of plastic marine litter that contaminates the Easter Island Ecoregion.
In search for the sources of plastic marine litter that contaminates the Easter Island Ecoregion.
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寻找污染复活节岛生态区的塑料海洋垃圾的来源。
DOI：
10.1038/s41598-019-56012-x
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发表时间：
2019
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Gennip SJV
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Gennip SJV
亚热带环流是塑料垃圾长期积累的海洋区域，使周围的海洋岛屿受到塑料污染，可能对海洋生物造成严重后果。岛屿之所以会暴露在远距离散布在海洋或陆地栖息地的此类污染物中，是因为洋流可以远距离输送塑料。在此，针对复活节岛生态区 (EIE) 解决此问题。高分辨率海洋环流模型与拉格朗日粒子跟踪工具一起使用，以确定 EIE 与工业捕捞区和太平洋盆地海岸线区域的连通模式。研究了漂浮（例如浮力大塑料）或中性浮力（较小的微塑料）“虚拟”颗粒的连接模式。我们发现，南纬 20° 至 40° 之间的南美海岸线以及秘鲁近海国际水域（南纬 20°，西经 80°）内的捕鱼区与碎片到达 EIE 的可能性最高，其过境时间不到 2 年。这些地区与智利人口最稠密的沿海地区和南太平洋捕捞最密集的地区重合。研究结果提供了通过更好的上游废物管理来减少到达 EIE 的塑料污染的潜力。结果还强调需要就这一重要问题制定国际行动计划。
Subtropical gyres are the oceanic regions where plastic litter accumulates over long timescales, exposing surrounding oceanic islands to plastic contamination, with potentially severe consequences on marine life. Islands’ exposure to such contaminants, littered over long distances in marine or terrestrial habitats, is due to the ocean currents that can transport plastic over long ranges. Here, this issue is addressed for the Easter Island ecoregion (EIE). High-resolution ocean circulation models are used with a Lagrangian particle-tracking tool to identify the connectivity patterns of the EIE with industrial fishing areas and coastline regions of the Pacific basin. Connectivity patterns for “virtual” particles either floating (such as buoyant macroplastics) or neutrally-buoyant (smaller microplastics) are investigated. We find that the South American shoreline between 20°S and 40°S, and the fishing zone within international waters off Peru (20°S, 80°W) are associated with the highest probability for debris to reach the EIE, with transit times under 2 years. These regions coincide with the most-densely populated coastal region of Chile and the most-intensely fished region in the South Pacific. The findings offer potential for mitigating plastic contamination reaching the EIE through better upstream waste management. Results also highlight the need for international action plans on this important issue.