title: Plastic debris retention and exportation by a mangrove forest patch.
abstract: An experiment observed the behavior of selected tagged plastic items deliberately released in different habitats of a tropical mangrove forest in NE Brazil in late rainy (September) and late dry (March) seasons. Significant differences were not reported among seasons. However, marine debris retention varied among habitats, according to characteristics such as hydrodynamic (i.e., flow rates and volume transported) and relative vegetation (Rhizophora mangle) height and density. The highest grounds retained significantly more items when compared to the borders of the river and the tidal creek. Among the used tagged items, PET bottles were more observed and margarine tubs were less observed, being easily transported to adjacent habitats. Plastic bags were the items most retained near the releasing site. The balance between items retained and items lost was positive, demonstrating that mangrove forests tend to retain plastic marine debris for long periods (months-years).
authors: Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, Recife, PE CEP 50740-550, Brazil. Electronic address: julianasul@gmail.com.
authors: Juliana A
authors: JA
authors: Ivar do Sul
authors: Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, Recife, PE CEP 50740-550, Brazil.
authors: Monica F
authors: MF
authors: Costa
authors: Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, Recife, PE CEP 50740-550, Brazil.
authors: Jacqueline S
authors: JS
authors: Silva-Cavalcanti
authors: Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, Recife, PE CEP 50740-550, Brazil.
authors: Maria Christina B
authors: MC
authors: Araújo
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D043982:Rhizophoraceae; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Coastal ecosystems; Environmental conservation; Fishers communities; Mangrove forests; Marine debris