OCN 201 Biology Lecture 13 Marine Pollution.

Transcription

1 OCN 201 Biology Lecture 13 Marine Pollution

2 Marine Pollution: What is it? Introduction by humans into the oceans of substances or energy that cause resource harm are health hazard hinder marine activities reduce quality of use

3 Broken oil pipe leaking oil (Gulf of Mexico) Pollution Natural tar seep (seafloor off coast of California) Not Pollution Photo: British Petroleum Credit: Donna Schroeder/U.S. Geological Survey

4 Some examples Nutrient runoff Plastic Debris.but also oil, sewage, and bioaccumulating toxins among other things

5 Nutrient Pollution Eutrophication Nutrient runoff (fertilizer) leads to huge phytoplankton blooms Isn t that a good thing? No! Too much overwhelms the system and the organic matter sinks, decays and depletes oxygen in the deeper waters (hypoxia) - suffocating animals

6 Hypoxia in Gulf of Mexico Leads to Dead Zones in Coastal Areas

7 Pew Charitable Trusts

8 Eutrophication Can Lead to Anoxia Nutrients in runoff Fresher Saltier O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O2 O 2 O2 CO2 CO2O2 CO2 CO2 O2 CO CO2 O22 O2 CO2 CO2 O2 X density difference acts as a barrier to mixing X Larger organisms die with no oxygen O2 O2 O2 CO2 O2 Phytoplankton Grow Oxygen produced Dead Phytoplankton Sink CO2 Bacteria Decompose the material using up all oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide

9 Bottom water oxygen

10 Dead Zones around the world

11 Marine Debris Lost/discarded nets and lines entangle, drown, smother marine life Plastic (containers, toys, wrappers, and bags) ingested by marine animals. Can be fatal

12 Marine Debris

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15 Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7), e

16 Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7), e

17 Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A.,... & Law, K. L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223),

18 Top five source countries in Southeast Asia: China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A.,... & Law, K. L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223),

19 Manila Bay, Philippines 8 million tons of plastic enters our oceans every year! The Philippine Star, June 2018; Photo: Michael Varcas

20 Where is the plastic? Of the plastic that enters the marine environment, where is it? 30 to 70 million metric tons total Oceans (1%) Beaches (5%) Seafloor (94%)

21 Concentration of Marine Plastics Max Ocean Seafloor 0.74 kg 70 kg Beaches 2000 kg per square kilometer (about the area of Manoa Campus)

22 Clean-up Efforts in Surface Ocean The percentage of marine plastics in the surface ocean is relatively small And the concentration is relatively low But this is where most animals are feeding and ingesting the plastics and clean-up of water is easier than the seafloor

23 What do we do about it? Inventions to concentrate and remove plastics from ocean water are being tested The Ocean Cleanup: System 001

24 What do we do about it? Inventions to concentrate and remove plastics from ocean water are being tested Unfortunately, only only a small percentage of the plastic is floating in the ocean Clean-up is very important, but our TOP PRIORITY needs to be on preventing the plastic from getting to the ocean in the first place!

25 What do we do about it? Don t litter Pick up trash at the beach Use reusable cups, bottles, straws Use reusable shopping bags

26 The Honolulu Strategy Meeting sponsored by NOAA and the United Nations in Honolulu (2011) Provided a strategy for action - To reduce the SOURCES of plastic Reduce the plastic already in the ocean