Rapid-Survey Methodology to Assess Litter Volumes along Large River Systems—A Case Study of the Tamsui River in Taiwan

Abstract

Riverbanks are an important source of plastic pollution. However, the current assessment methods for riverbank litter are based on a point-based sampling which is time consuming and limited in scope. To quickly assess hotspot areas and litter compositions in larger areas, this study developed a new citizen science bicycle survey for riverine debris. Covering 281.5 km of the Tamsui river system in Taiwan, the new methodology was tested at one of the most plastics polluted rivers in the world. The results revealed an average litter density of 15.3 m3/km at the river mouth and of 0.2 m3/km to 2.8 m3/km along the riverbanks further upstream. The coastline was mainly polluted by derelict fishing gear whereas single-use plastics and illegally dumped waste dominated the upstream areas. A correlation between litter and population density could not be identified, but it was noted that litter hotspots occur at cut banks and near mangrove vegetation. Overall, the new methodology proved suitable to collect large quantities of data for scientific purposes and to quickly detect litter accumulations prior to clean-up activities.

Fungal Diversity and Dynamics during Long-Term Immersion of Conventional and Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine Environment

“…Marine plastic litter poses complex multifaceted issues for ecosystems, human health, the economy, and even the climate, as it affects the oceans' ability to sequester carbon [5]. Landbased sources are recognized as the main cause of marine plastic pollution, accounting for approximately 80% of total marine debris, largely composed of single-use plastics (~50%), while sea-based sources, primarily composed of fishing gear, account for around 20% [6,7]. Plastic is now considered a marker of the Anthropocene Epoch [8], an informal unit of geological time that marks the start of human impact on geology and ecosystems, and has also led to the term "Plastic age" [9].…”

Sharing communication insights of the citizen science program Plastic Pirates—best practices from 7 years of engaging schoolchildren and teachers in plastic pollution research

“…The purpose of communication within citizen science initiatives varies depending on e.g., the desired outcomes, target audience, timescales, and the level of engagement of the participants in the initiative (Rüfenacht et al, 2021). For initiatives engaging their participants in the design of research questions (Ballard and Belsky, 2010), in extensive training to perform data collection and the shipment of samples (Schneider et al, 2021), the analysis of data (Weigelhofer et al, 2018) or even the publication of results (Nicosia et al, 2014), individual communication naturally starts much earlier and ends much later in the lifetime of a citizen science initiative. Stronger, deeper interaction has been shown to lead to a stronger participant commitment (Rüfenacht et al, 2021).…”

Pembelajaran Penanganan Sampah Laut Di Di Pulau Seribu Dan Sekitarnya

“…Kegiatan ini dimulai dengan melakukan ground check lokasi-lokasi sampah terutama yang ada di ekosistem pesisir yakni mangrove dan terumbu karang. Pengamatan dilakukan cara menyelam di lokasi penyelaman yang sering dilakukan oleh wisatawan dan juga melakuan pengamatan secara visual (Schneider et al, 2021). Kemudian dilakukan wawancara dengan stakeholder wisata, nelayan, LSM, masyarakat, dan Balai Taman Nasional.…”