Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff
Abstract Macroplastic pollution is a pervasive global environmental challenge, adversely affecting marine ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Understanding temporal variations is crucial for identifying pollution sources and developing effective mitigation policies. However, in-situ data from bea...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01913-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846147414701899776 |
|---|---|
| author | Niclas Rieger Estrella Olmedo Martin Thiel Vanessa Sarah Salvo Daniela Honorato-Zimmer Nelson Vásquez Antonio Turiel Jaume Piera |
| author_facet | Niclas Rieger Estrella Olmedo Martin Thiel Vanessa Sarah Salvo Daniela Honorato-Zimmer Nelson Vásquez Antonio Turiel Jaume Piera |
| author_sort | Niclas Rieger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Macroplastic pollution is a pervasive global environmental challenge, adversely affecting marine ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Understanding temporal variations is crucial for identifying pollution sources and developing effective mitigation policies. However, in-situ data from beach surveys are often irregular, both spatially and temporally, and highly variable, complicating robust statistical conclusions. Here we employ a Bayesian machine learning framework to investigate seasonal variations, identify regional hotspots and elucidate their anthropogenic drivers. Using data from 3866 surveys across 168 western European beaches, we leverage a spatial log-Gaussian Cox Process to enhance statistical inference by integrating information from nearby beaches. Distinct seasonal patterns emerge, with winter and spring exhibiting the highest pollution levels, while pronounced regional differences highlight seasonal pollution hotspots in the western Iberian Peninsula, French coastline, Irish Sea and Skagerrak region. These peaks are attributed to riverine emissions and aquaculture activities, highlighting the potential impact of these sources on beach pollution. Our findings advocate for enhanced, time-specific monitoring to effectively manage litter hotspots, emphasizing the importance of aquaculture-related plastic emissions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-620b0166a75f4e09ad72eddb2b231906 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-620b0166a75f4e09ad72eddb2b2319062024-12-01T12:46:22ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-11-015111210.1038/s43247-024-01913-7Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoffNiclas Rieger0Estrella Olmedo1Martin Thiel2Vanessa Sarah Salvo3Daniela Honorato-Zimmer4Nelson Vásquez5Antonio Turiel6Jaume Piera7Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) - CSICInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) - CSICMarineGEO Program, Smithsonian Environmental Research CenterInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) - CSICDpto. de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del NorteDpto. de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del NorteInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) - CSICInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) - CSICAbstract Macroplastic pollution is a pervasive global environmental challenge, adversely affecting marine ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Understanding temporal variations is crucial for identifying pollution sources and developing effective mitigation policies. However, in-situ data from beach surveys are often irregular, both spatially and temporally, and highly variable, complicating robust statistical conclusions. Here we employ a Bayesian machine learning framework to investigate seasonal variations, identify regional hotspots and elucidate their anthropogenic drivers. Using data from 3866 surveys across 168 western European beaches, we leverage a spatial log-Gaussian Cox Process to enhance statistical inference by integrating information from nearby beaches. Distinct seasonal patterns emerge, with winter and spring exhibiting the highest pollution levels, while pronounced regional differences highlight seasonal pollution hotspots in the western Iberian Peninsula, French coastline, Irish Sea and Skagerrak region. These peaks are attributed to riverine emissions and aquaculture activities, highlighting the potential impact of these sources on beach pollution. Our findings advocate for enhanced, time-specific monitoring to effectively manage litter hotspots, emphasizing the importance of aquaculture-related plastic emissions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01913-7 |
| spellingShingle | Niclas Rieger Estrella Olmedo Martin Thiel Vanessa Sarah Salvo Daniela Honorato-Zimmer Nelson Vásquez Antonio Turiel Jaume Piera Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff |
| title_full | Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff |
| title_short | Seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the North-East Atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff |
| title_sort | seasonal hotspots of beach litter in the north east atlantic linked to aquaculture and river runoff |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01913-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT niclasrieger seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT estrellaolmedo seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT martinthiel seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT vanessasarahsalvo seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT danielahonoratozimmer seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT nelsonvasquez seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT antonioturiel seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff AT jaumepiera seasonalhotspotsofbeachlitterinthenortheastatlanticlinkedtoaquacultureandriverrunoff |