Ingestion
The Ingestion of plastic harms the health of marine organisms. Plastic can either be ingested directly or passively through passive predation or filter feeding activity. Seabirds and cetacean species are highly impacted by this phenomenon, but also mussels, fish, and mammals such as dolphins for example. Ingestion does not only lead to negative and toxic effects such as a diminishing reproduction behavior but also significantly lowers survival rates.
Furthermore, the plastic particles act as a vector for toxic hydrophobic chemicals in the seawater. Pollutants get adsorbed (attached) onto the surface of the plastic and ultimately transfer across the food chain.
Entanglement
Entanglement endangers sea turtles, dolphins and sperm whales among others. It causes wounds that restrain the animal’s/creature’s ability to move, feed and reproduce. Scratches and infections can result in altered behavior and lower their survival rate. Ultimately entanglement might lead to death due to suffocation, starvation, or strangulation
Coral Reefs
Plastic litter acts as a considerable stressor for coral reefs, leading to shading suffocation and mortality of coral reefs
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