A new Working Paper has been added to our library:
Alava, J.J., Moreno-Báez, M., McMullen,K., Tekman, M.B., Barrows, A.P.W., Bergmann, M., Price, D., Swartz, W. & Ota, Y. (2023). Ecological Impacts of Marine Plastic Pollution, Microplastics’ Foodweb Bioaccumulation Modelling and Global Ocean Footprint: Insights into the Problems, the Management Implications and Coastal Communities Inequities. The Nippon Foundation-Ocean Litter Project (2019-2023). IOF Working Papers 2023 (01), 81 pp., Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract:
Macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics are increasingly becoming pollutants of great concern in the world’s oceans. Many studies have revealed adverse health impacts in marine ecosystems and organisms resulting from microplastic and nanoplastics exposure, ingestion and contamination. Marine biodiversity is readily affected by plastic pollution and coastal communities strongly relying on traditional seafoods and commercial fishing for subsistence are particularly susceptible to the global footprint of ocean plastics. Understanding potential bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes of microplastics in marine foodwebs is critical to advance microplastic science. Concerted bioaccumulation studies and foodweb bioaccumulation modelling of microplastics, addressing trophic transfer, ingestion, bioaccumulation potential and elimination/egestion rates in marine biota and in foodwebs are urgently needed as part of ecotoxicological and human risk assessments. To address these research gaps, this report presents primary research fronts focused on: 1) key contributions from the development of a comprehensive foodweb-bioaccumulation and biomagnification modeling approach for microplastics, using the well-known Chinook salmon-southern resident killer whale foodweb of the Northeastern Pacific, as a practical tool to understand the bioaccumulation and biomagnification behaviour of microplastics; 2) a synthesis of the application of trophic dynamic-ecosystem modeling applying Ecopath and Ecosim (EwE) models with the Ecotracer module; 3) the projection of the global ocean distribution and concentration levels of microplastics, using the databases Litterbase and the Global Microplastic Initiative to track the bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential in tandem with the development of the global microplastic footprint exposure index in selected marine ecosystems and Indigenous coastal communities of the world’s ocean; and, 4) a critical narrative of the implications for plastic pollution mitigation and socially equitable interventions and solutions for addressing marine plastic pollution. In conclusion, continued biomonitoring efforts and application of sound bioaccumulation modelling tools in tandem with the prioritization of knowledge mobilization and community participation via equitable interventions is of paramount importance to ensure effective solutions and mitigation policies that are socially and equitably fair to reduce inequalities and halt marine plastic pollution, following preventive measures and the precautionary approach.
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Tags: food webs, IOF Research Associates, Juan Jose Alava, microplastics, ocean, OPRU, plastic, pollution, Publications, Research