Microplastics and Marine Life by Lauren VanBuren

According to Mark Kinver, studies performed by environmental scientists have indicated that microscopic plastic debris, or "microplastics," have been discovered on the coasts of urban areas and continue to infiltrate animal food chains. These plastics are a product of human waste--specifically through water discharge from washing machines. Dr. Browne, a member of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis states that "some polyester garments released more than 1,900 fibres per garment, per wash," which is a pretty substantial amount considering how frequently the general population washes their clothes. To get an idea of how widespread this issue is, a team of scientists took samples from 18 beaches around the globe, and there was a presence of mictoplastics in every single sample. (The image on the right was taken from the article and depicts debris found on the coast of an urban area)

The issues related to these plastics are still being studied, but many have already been discovered. For instance, once these plastics are discharged, animals, specifically marine species, consume them. After consumption, scientists found that the plastics transfer from their stomachs into their circulation system and accumulate into their cells. Microplastics also can physically block or damage the feeding appendages and interrupt the digestion system of many animals. If this issue continues, it could have a harmful effect on marine biodiversity around the world.

This article relates to Ecology because it is another example of human's ecological impact on the environment. The microplastics found on coastlines are not coincidental, since they are more abundant in urban areas. This tells us that humans have a responsibility to try and reverse this issue and help maintain marine biodiversity.

It is important that humans take into consideration that something as simple as washing our clothes has environmental impacts. Research on methods of removing microplastics from sewage is necessary, but  until we can find more efficient and less harmful ways to stop water discharge from our washing machines, humans should be more conscious of their habits and take these issues into consideration when deciding how frequently to wash their clothes.


Accumulating 'microplastic' threat to shores:
Kinver, Mark. "Accumulating 'microplastic' threat to shores." BBC News 27 January 2012, n. pag. Web. 31 Jan. 2012.

The Effects of Coral Bleaching by Danielle Carl

              As Lindy Kerin explains in her article entitled Coral Bleaching Event ‘Worst Since 1998’, coral bleaching is currently at its worst and humans are to blame. The article goes on to say that coral bleaching has gone on to hit an area known as the Coral triangle, which has more than 500 coral species, which makes it the “richest marine biodiversity zone on the planet”(Kerin 1). The bleaching presently spans from the West Indian Ocean to the Pacific. The cause of this bleaching, which is the worst case since 1998, is due to an increase in water temperatures. This increase of one to three degrees is too much for the coral to handle and after one or two months the reefs experience sever coral mortality. The temperature increase is due to climate change from the increase of green house gas emissions and "It's really showing that climate change is not something that's going to happen in the future - it's something that's affecting systems right now” (Kerin 1). Tom Mohr the manager of the climate change program at the Australian Conservation Foundation says that we need to take steps to reduce green house gas emissions, and that “we need to do to protect their future, but we also need to make sure that ocean acidification, another impact of greenhouse gas emissions, is also reduced." If these steps are taken it is possible that the water temperatures will rise and coral bleaching will stop.

            This article greatly relates to the course because coral bleaching has a great impact on the ecosystem. As explained in the article, when coral bleaches, fish and other species that live on and around the coral can no longer live there. Therefore coral bleaching interrupts both marine life, and the lives of humans who maintain fisheries. As the population of coral dwindles, so does the organisms that rely on it. Also, this article proves that the environment would benefit in many ways if green house gas emissions were reduced, and climate change was addressed in a more proactive manner.

            I think this article raises some very important issues. Andrew Baird explained that even the most prominent reef species known as the Acropora, has been so badly bleached that 80 percent of the species is dead. I believe that there could be grave consequences if the coral continues to die off because many people rely on fish that life among the coral to meet their basic needs such as a form of food and income. Without the coral there will be less fish and therefore fewer resources for the humans that rely on them. Not only that, but to see a beautiful species such as coral die off is a true loss to the environment and a huge loss to the ecosystem as well.

Kerin, Lindy. "Coral Bleaching Event 1998 Worst Since ."ABC News 19 October 2010, n. pag. Print. <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-19/coral-bleaching-event-worst-since-1998/2303768>.

This is a healthy and thriving coral reef. Which is a vital part of the ecosystem.

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS381US382&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=Llyfb9AxquDK4M:&imgrefurl=http://www.globalpharmasectornews.com/2011/10/coral-may-lead-to-sunburn-pill/&docid=uRo64a0iyADn2M&imgurl=http://www.globalpharmasectornews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/coral-reef.jpg&w=1800&h=1172&ei=0fgaT_-zEtK30QHB_fngCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=155&vpy=284&dur=1536&hovh=181&hovw=278&tx=190&ty=92&sig=112221683256752725657&page=1&tbnh=98&tbnw=147&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0

This is a coral reef that has undergone bleaching. A bleached reef will eventually lead to the death of the reef, which is known coral mortality

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS381US382&biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=UTrGakhgdwSpNM:&imgrefurl=http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/massive-coral-bleaching-damages-95-of-corals-in-philippines.html&docid=_GuemIFZuChagM&imgurl=http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/coral-bleaching-staghorn.jpg&w=468&h=351&ei=AxEbT7jBPOfy0gHpo_2aCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1000&vpy=4&dur=219&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=219&ty=81&sig=112221683256752725657&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=156&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0

This is known as a coral bleaching map. The red dots signify areas where there is severe coral bleaching.

http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1SNNT_enUS381US382&biw=1366&bih=624&tbm=isch&tbnid=yUJPtTnvjDsyIM:&imgrefurl=http://earthtrends.wri.org/updates/node/285&docid=nU5JL0eznfsPKM&imgurl=http://earthtrends.wri.org/images/coral_bleaching_severe.jpg&w=450&h=225&ei=pxMbT8rrIOPn0QGsp8TTCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=304&vpy=166&dur=2147&hovh=159&hovw=318&tx=169&ty=65&sig=112221683256752725657&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=90&tbnw=180&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEdoizgeNJk&feature=related