Marine plastic debris is one of the main threat affecting cetaceans and other macro- fauna. A specific protocol was adapted by the Mediterranean network that monitors cetaceans using ferries as platform of observation allowing a complementary data collection on marine macro-litter. Since 2013, the protocol was applied along 5 fixed transects (2700 km monitored year-round) between Italy, France, Spain, Tunisia and Greece. Plastic was the main component of the marine litter, with highest density in summer (2.53±0.5 items/km2). Kernel analysis revealed variation in distribution of plastic debris and the overlap with squid-eating species distribution.
CETACEANS AT RISK BY PLASTIC DEBRIS: FIRST RESULTS FROM THE FIXED LINE TRANSECT MEDITERRANEAN MONITORING NETWORK
CASTELLI, ALBERTO;
2015-01-01
Abstract
Marine plastic debris is one of the main threat affecting cetaceans and other macro- fauna. A specific protocol was adapted by the Mediterranean network that monitors cetaceans using ferries as platform of observation allowing a complementary data collection on marine macro-litter. Since 2013, the protocol was applied along 5 fixed transects (2700 km monitored year-round) between Italy, France, Spain, Tunisia and Greece. Plastic was the main component of the marine litter, with highest density in summer (2.53±0.5 items/km2). Kernel analysis revealed variation in distribution of plastic debris and the overlap with squid-eating species distribution.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
