Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has changed ecosystems so much that now marine wildlife and plantlife are using it as the foundation of new habitats, it’s being claimed.
Marine Industry News reports on research conducted on the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch — a gyre of marine waste in the North Pacific Ocean and one of at least five of such ‘trash vortexes’ around the world.
Marine experts investigating the region identified “neopelagic” communities of plants an animals thriving among the debris, much of it plastic from old fishing nets and discarded bottles.
“The issues of plastic go beyond just ingestion and entanglement,” says marine scientist Linsey Haram.
“It’s creating opportunities for coastal species’ biogeography to greatly expand beyond what we previously thought was possible.”
Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.