title: Litter and seabirds found across a longitudinal gradient in the South Pacific Ocean.
abstract: Abundances and composition of marine litter and seabirds were estimated in the central South Pacific (SP) Ocean between the Chilean continental coast and the Easter Island Ecoregion. Litter was dominated by plastics throughout the study area, but the proportion of plastics was higher at sea and on the oceanic islands than in coastal waters and on continental beaches. Litter densities were higher close to the center of the SP subtropical gyre compared to the continental coast. The seabird assemblage was diverse (28 species), and several endemic species were recorded. Seabird abundances were higher in the coastal waters and around Juan Fernández Islands off the continental coast than in the Oceanic and Polynesian sectors. Endangered species breeding on Salas & Gómez Island were observed in the Polynesian sector, which suggests a high potential for negative interactions between seabirds and floating litter, both occurring in high densities in this sector.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Programa de Magíster en Ciencias del Mar mención Recursos Costeros, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miranda-Urbina
authors.affiliation: Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.affiliation: Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile. Electronic address: gluna@ucn.cl.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luna-Jorquera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002677:Chile; D056727:Endangered Species; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis; D011114:Polynesia; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Litter; Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park; Oceanic islands; Seabirds; South Pacific Subtropical gyre