{"id":261263,"date":"2021-05-28T10:09:30","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T07:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/plastic-in-galapagos-seawater-beaches-and-animals\/"},"modified":"2021-05-28T10:09:30","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T07:09:30","slug":"plastic-in-galapagos-seawater-beaches-and-animals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/plastic-in-galapagos-seawater-beaches-and-animals\/","title":{"rendered":"#Plastic in Galapagos seawater, beaches and animals"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Plastic in Galapagos seawater, beaches and animals<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\n Plastic sampling on a beach in Galapagos. Credit: Adam Porter
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Plastic pollution has been found in seawater, on beaches and inside marine animals at the Galapagos Islands.<\/p>\n


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A new study\u2014by the University of Exeter, Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) and the Galapagos Science<\/a> Center\u2014found plastic in all marine habitats at the island of San Cristobal, where Charles Darwin first landed in Galapagos.<\/p>\n

At the worst “hotspots”\u2014including a beach used by the rare “Godzilla” marine iguana\u2014more than 400 plastic particles were found per square metre of beach.<\/p>\n

Plastic was also found inside more than half of the marine invertebrates (such as barnacles and urchins) studied, and on the seabed.<\/p>\n

The findings suggest most plastic pollution in Galapagos\u2014a world-famous biodiversity haven\u2014arrives on ocean currents.<\/p>\n

The study also identifies Galapagos marine vertebrates most at risk from swallowing plastic or getting entangled\u2014including scalloped hammerheads, whale sharks, sea lions and sea turtles.<\/p>\n

“The pristine image of Galapagos might give the impression that the islands are somehow protected from plastic pollution, but our study clearly shows that’s not the case,” said Dr. Ceri Lewis, of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute.<\/p>\n

“The highest levels of plastic we found were on east-facing beaches, which are exposed to pollution carried across the eastern Pacific on the Humboldt Current.<\/p>\n

“These east-facing beaches include Punta Pitt, a highly polluted site that is home to Godzilla marine iguanas which\u2014like so much Galapagos wildlife\u2014are found nowhere else in the world.<\/p>\n

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\n A piece of plastic tape found lying on an urchin. Credit: Adam Porter
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“There are less than 500 Godzilla marine iguanas in existence, and it’s concerning that they are living alongside this high level of plastic pollution.”<\/p>\n

Speaking about microplastic particles found inside marine invertebrates, lead author Dr. Jen Jones, of GCT, said: “These animals are a crucial part of food webs that support the larger species that famously live on and around the Galapagos Islands.<\/p>\n

“The potential health effects of plastic ingestion on marine animals are largely unknown, and more research is needed.”<\/p>\n

The study’s findings include:<\/p>\n