Marine litter disrupts ecological processes in reef systems

Carvalho-Souza, Gustavo Freire de; Llope, Marcos; Tinôco, None Moacir Santos; Medeiros, Diego V.; Maia-Nogueira, Rodrigo; Sampaio, Cláudio L. S.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.049

Cited by 80 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…The abrasive action due to the continuous mechanical friction caused by entangled gear can cause breakage of ramifications of all erect biotic structures or a progressive removal of their tissues (Macfadyen et al, 2009;de Carvalho-Souza et al, 2018), making them more vulnerable to parasites or bacterial infections (Bo et al, 2014). Abrasion/coenenchyme loss was the most common effect of entanglement by ALDFG reported for animal forests on Mediterranean reefs, and it was observed in all subregions.…”

Section: Entanglementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coverage can induce stress in sessile organisms (e.g., corals and sponges) by depriving them of light and oxygen. de Carvalho-Souza et al (2018) reported many examples of reef sites that suffered significant losses of coral cover related to suffocation by macrolitter. Marine litter may cover large portions of the settled communities (Saldanha et al, 2003), impeding the recolonization of large organisms (Galgani et al, 2015), preventing gas exchange and oxygenation, and diminishing the feed capacity of the organisms (Kühn et al, 2015).…”

Section: Coveragementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several authors observed the crab Paromola cuvieri (Angiolillo and Pisapia, 2015;Taviani et al, 2017;Mecho et al, 2018;Angiolillo, 2019;Pierdomenico et al, 2019) to use unusual camouflage shelters carrying on plastic on its exoskeleton, instead of usual sponges or gorgonians ( Figure 6C). The high availability of marine litter may indeed result in its use by reef species instead of natural materials, with unknown ecological implications (de Carvalho-Souza et al, 2018). The squat lobster Munida spp.…”

Section: Behavioralmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fishes, or other vagile invertebrates, can take advantage of artificial three-dimensional structures, especially in an otherwise soft-sediment environment (Angiolillo, 2019) or in a degraded environment where natural structuring species functioning as shelter are reduced. Even if these artificial substrata, used as a refuge by organisms, may enhance biodiversity, they interfere with life on the seabed and modify the spatial heterogeneity at different spatial scales, altering the natural environment, the community structure, and possibly ecosystem functioning (Saldanha et al, 2003;UNEP, 2009;Sánchez et al, 2013;de Carvalho-Souza et al, 2018;Angiolillo, 2019).…”

Section: Behavioralmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…threaten these vulnerable bioconstruction systems, as well as climate change and the spread of alien species (Ballesteros, 2006;Coll et al, 2010;Piazzi et al, 2012). In particular, the widespread presence of marine litter represents one of the most important threats to biogenic reefs, which leads to a degradation of these habitats (de Carvalho-Souza et al, 2018) and the associated organisms (Galgani et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of Marine Litter on Mediterranean Reef Systems: From Shallow to Deep Waters

Angiolillo

Fortibuoni

2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Biogenic reefs are known worldwide to play a key role in benthic ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at every level, from shallow to deeper waters. Unfortunately, several stressors threaten these vulnerable systems. The widespread presence of marine litter represents one of these. The harmful effects of marine litter on several organisms are known so far. However, only in the last decade, there was increasingly scientific and public attention on the impacts on reef organisms and habitats caused by litter accumulating on the seafloor. This review aims to synthesize literature and discuss the state of current knowledge on the interactions between marine litter and reef organisms in a strongly polluted basin, the Mediterranean Sea. The multiple impacts (e.g., entanglement, ghost-fishing, coverage, etc.) of litter on reef systems, the list of species impacted, and the main litter categories were identified, and a map of the knowledge available so far on this topic was provided. Seventy-eight taxa resulted impacted by marine litter on Mediterranean reefs, and the majority belonged to the phylum Cnidaria (41%), including endangered species like the red coral (Corallium rubrum) and the madrepora coral (Madrepora oculata). Entanglement, caused mainly by abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), was the most frequent impact, playing a detrimental effect mainly on coralligenous arborescent species and cold-water corals (CWCs). The information was spatially heterogeneous, with some areas almost uncovered by scientific studies (e.g., the Aegean-Levantine Sea and the Southern Mediterranean Sea). Although many legal and policy frameworks have been established to tackle this issue [e.g., marine strategy framework directive (MSFD) and the Barcelona Convention], several gaps still exist concerning the assessment of the impact of marine litter on marine organisms, and in particular on reefs. There is a need for harmonized and standardized monitoring protocols for the collection of quantitative data to assess the impact of litter on reefs and animal forests. At the same time, urgent management measures limiting, for instance, the impact of ALDFG and other marine litter are needed to preserve these valuable and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

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Section: Entanglementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Coveragementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavioralmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavioralmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of Marine Litter on Mediterranean Reef Systems: From Shallow to Deep Waters

Angiolillo

Fortibuoni

2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Marine Litter, Plastic, and Microplastics on the Seafloor

Galgani

Angiolillo

Gérigny

et al. 2022

Plastics and the Ocean

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Assessment of Octocoral‐Dominated Benthic Assemblages Along a Mesophotic Gradient, With a Focus on the Impact of Lost Fishing Gears

Jacobsen,

Roveta,

Pulido Mantas

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Coralligenous, a typical Mediterranean mesophotic habitat, is a highly diverse assemblage, severely threatened by several stressors, including fishing litter. To characterise the coralligenous of the upper mesophotic of the Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea, Italy), video transects at 35 and 50 m depth were performed at four sites. Benthic assemblages and lost fishing gears were recorded, and the two depths compared. A higher coverage of taxa with complex 3D structures was found at 50 m, mainly due to the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata. However, the overall low density of this species (0.4–6.6 colonies/m2), together with the impact caused by 120 fishing lines found along the transects, highlights the need for tailored conservation measures. With climate change moving further down the water column and fishing impacts being a major cause of degradation, the design of marine protected areas needs to be extended to include mesophotic depths, contributing to the 30 × 30 targets agreed upon at the COP15.

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Marine litter disrupts ecological processes in reef systems

Cited by 80 publications

References 61 publications

Impacts of Marine Litter on Mediterranean Reef Systems: From Shallow to Deep Waters

Impacts of Marine Litter on Mediterranean Reef Systems: From Shallow to Deep Waters

Marine Litter, Plastic, and Microplastics on the Seafloor

Assessment of Octocoral‐Dominated Benthic Assemblages Along a Mesophotic Gradient, With a Focus on the Impact of Lost Fishing Gears

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