3 Questions
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and what are some of the consequences of plastic pollution in the ocean?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, located in the Pacific Ocean. Plastic pollution in the ocean may enable the creation of new floating ecosystems of species that are not normally able to survive in the open ocean. The introduction of new species into the remote areas of the ocean may have unforeseen consequences.
How many marine invertebrate organisms were identified on the plastic debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and what percentage of those species were normally found in coastal habitats?
Researchers identified 484 marine invertebrate organisms on the debris, accounting for 46 different species, of which 80% were normally found in coastal habitats.
What is the estimated amount of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and where does the majority of it come from?
The Ocean Cleanup initiative estimates there are about 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch that weigh an estimated 80,000 tonnes. The majority of the plastic found in the patch comes from the fishing industry, while between 10% and 20% of the total volume can be traced back to the 2011 Japanese tsunami.
Study Notes
- Coastal creatures have been found living on plastic debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, thousands of miles from their original home.
- The plastic pollution in the ocean may be enabling the creation of new floating ecosystems of species that are not normally able to survive in the open ocean.
- Researchers identified 484 marine invertebrate organisms on the debris, accounting for 46 different species, of which 80% were normally found in coastal habitats.
- The consequences of the introduction of new species into the remote areas of the ocean are not yet fully understood.
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, twice the size of Texas.
- The patch is bounded by an enormous gyre – the biggest of five huge, spinning circular currents in the world’s oceans that pull trash towards the center and trap it there, creating a garbage vortex.
- The Ocean Cleanup initiative estimates there are about 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch that weigh an estimated 80,000 tonnes.
- The majority of the plastic found in the patch comes from the fishing industry, while between 10% and 20% of the total volume can be traced back to the 2011 Japanese tsunami.
- The world produces around 460 million tons of plastic a year, a figure that will triple by 2060 if no action is taken.
- Only around 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally, while as much as 22% of all plastic waste is mismanaged and ends up as litter in the oceans.
Test your knowledge on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact on marine life with this informative quiz. Learn about the new floating ecosystems created by plastic pollution, the species found on plastic debris, and the consequences of introducing new species into the ocean. Discover the shocking statistics on plastic waste production and recycling, and find out how you can make a difference. Don't miss out on this chance to learn about one of the biggest environmental issues of our time.
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