title: Sources and sinks of plastic debris in estuaries: A conceptual model integrating biological, physical and chemical distribution mechanisms.
abstract: Micro- and macroplastic accumulation threatens estuaries worldwide because of the often dense human populations, diverse plastic inputs and high potential for plastic degradation and storage in these ecosystems. Nonetheless, our understanding of plastic sources and sinks remains limited. We designed conceptual models of the local and estuary-wide transport of plastics. We identify processes affecting the position of plastics in the water column; processes related to the mixing of fresh and salt water; and processes resulting from the influences of wind, topography, and organism-plastic interactions. The models identify gaps in the spatial context of plastic-organisms interactions, the chemical behavior of plastics in estuaries, effects of wind on plastic suspension-deposition cycles, and the relative importance of processes affecting the position in the water column. When interpreted in the context of current understanding, sinks with high management potential can be identified. However, source-sink patterns vary among estuary types and with local scale processes.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Systems Analysis, Integrated Assessment and Modelling, EAWAG, Uberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Freelance Scientist, Switzerland. Electronic address: Peter.Vermeiren@eawag.ch.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vermeiren
authors.affiliation: Freelance Scientist, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cynthia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Kochi University, 200 Monobe-Otsu, Nankoku-shi, Kochi 783-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Kou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikejima
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Conceptual model; Estuary; Landscape scale; Management; Plastic debris; Spatial distribution