Bottari, T.; Mghili, B.; Gunasekaran, K.; Mancuso, M. Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Biodiversity in Italy. Water 2024, 16, 519, doi:10.3390/w16040519.
Bottari, T.; Mghili, B.; Gunasekaran, K.; Mancuso, M. Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Biodiversity in Italy. Water 2024, 16, 519, doi:10.3390/w16040519.
Bottari, T.; Mghili, B.; Gunasekaran, K.; Mancuso, M. Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Biodiversity in Italy. Water 2024, 16, 519, doi:10.3390/w16040519.
Bottari, T.; Mghili, B.; Gunasekaran, K.; Mancuso, M. Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Biodiversity in Italy. Water 2024, 16, 519, doi:10.3390/w16040519.
Abstract
Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a primary contributor to the entanglement of numerous marine species. Utilizing digital media platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram we conducted an assessment of the detrimental effects of ALDFG and plastic litter, on the biodiversity of Italy's marine ecosystem. Our investigation revealed that plastic litter has adverse consequences on various forms of marine life, including reptiles, mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, along different Italian geographical sub-areas. Several records of interaction between plastic and endangered and vulnerable marine species have been described. Our reports even highlight the impact on marine turtles, mainly on Caretta caretta. This is the first report of entangled with fishing nets in Cetorhinus maximus, Oblada melanura, Serranus scriba, Homarus gammarus, Octopus vulgaris, and Phoenicopterus roseus. Furthermore, we identified that ghost nets have repercussions for endangered and vulnerable marine species. This update sheds light on the ongoing adverse effects of ghost nets on the Italian marine ecosystem, yet it is crucial to acknowledge that the true extent of the problem remains underestimated.
Keywords
Plastic pollution; biodiversity; entanglement; ingestion; endangered species; digital media
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Aquatic Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
