TY - JOUR
T1 - Plastic debris increases circadian temperature extremes in beach sediments
AU - Lavers, Jennifer L.
AU - Rivers-Auty, Jack
AU - Bond, Alexander L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Special thanks to the Cocos and Pitcairn communities (particularly T. Flores and J. Warren), the 2019 Henderson expedition team (especially M. Barker, J. Briggs, and R. Shackell), and Cocos Adventure Tours (K. & A. James) for generously providing logistical support. The authors are extremely grateful to A. Fidler (Adrift Lab) and H. Tassell for technical advice, equipment, and assistance in the field. Funding for this study was generously provided (directly or in-kind) by the Detached Cultural Organization, Natural History Museum, Howell Conservation Fund, Valpak, Toughsheet Environmental, the Pew Trusts, CEFAS, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Blue Belt Programme and Pitcairn Island Office), Architectural and Community Planning Inc, Zoological Society of London, Schwab International, Sea Shepherd Marine Debris (L. & M. Dicks), and Yuan Fang Media. Comments from four anonymous reviewers improved earlier drafts.
Funding Information:
Special thanks to the Cocos and Pitcairn communities (particularly T. Flores and J. Warren), the 2019 Henderson expedition team (especially M. Barker, J. Briggs, and R. Shackell), and Cocos Adventure Tours (K. & A. James) for generously providing logistical support. The authors are extremely grateful to A. Fidler (Adrift Lab) and H. Tassell for technical advice, equipment, and assistance in the field. Funding for this study was generously provided (directly or in-kind) by the Detached Cultural Organization , Natural History Museum , Howell Conservation Fund , Valpak, Toughsheet Environmental , the Pew Trusts , CEFAS , the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Blue Belt Programme and Pitcairn Island Office), Architectural and Community Planning Inc , Zoological Society of London , Schwab International , Sea Shepherd Marine Debris (L. & M. Dicks), and Yuan Fang Media . Comments from four anonymous reviewers improved earlier drafts.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/8/15
Y1 - 2021/8/15
N2 - Plastic pollution is the focus of substantial scientific and public interest, leading many to believe the issue is well documented and managed, with effective mitigation in place. However, many aspects are poorly understood, including fundamental questions relating to the scope and severity of impacts (e.g., demographic consequences at the population level). Plastics accumulate in significant quantities on beaches globally, yet the consequences for these terrestrial environments are largely unknown. Using real world, in situ measurements of circadian thermal fluctuations of beach sediment on Henderson Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, we demonstrate that plastics increase circadian temperature extremes. Particular plastic levels were associated with increases in daily maximum temperatures of 2.45 °C and decreases of daily minimum by − 1.50 °C at 5 cm depth below the accumulated plastic. Mass of surface plastic was high on both islands (Henderson: 571 ± 197 g/m2; Cocos: 3164 ± 1989 g/m2), but did not affect thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, or moisture content of beach sediments. Therefore, we suggest plastic effects sediment temperatures by altering thermal inputs and outputs (e.g., infrared radiation absorption). The resulting circadian temperature fluctuations have potentially significant implications for terrestrial ectotherms, many of which have narrow thermal tolerance limits and are functionally important in beach habitats.
AB - Plastic pollution is the focus of substantial scientific and public interest, leading many to believe the issue is well documented and managed, with effective mitigation in place. However, many aspects are poorly understood, including fundamental questions relating to the scope and severity of impacts (e.g., demographic consequences at the population level). Plastics accumulate in significant quantities on beaches globally, yet the consequences for these terrestrial environments are largely unknown. Using real world, in situ measurements of circadian thermal fluctuations of beach sediment on Henderson Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, we demonstrate that plastics increase circadian temperature extremes. Particular plastic levels were associated with increases in daily maximum temperatures of 2.45 °C and decreases of daily minimum by − 1.50 °C at 5 cm depth below the accumulated plastic. Mass of surface plastic was high on both islands (Henderson: 571 ± 197 g/m2; Cocos: 3164 ± 1989 g/m2), but did not affect thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, or moisture content of beach sediments. Therefore, we suggest plastic effects sediment temperatures by altering thermal inputs and outputs (e.g., infrared radiation absorption). The resulting circadian temperature fluctuations have potentially significant implications for terrestrial ectotherms, many of which have narrow thermal tolerance limits and are functionally important in beach habitats.
KW - Indian Ocean
KW - Marine debris
KW - Sediment properties
KW - South Pacific
KW - Thermal gradient
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126140
DO - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126140
M3 - Article
C2 - 34492929
AN - SCOPUS:85107616078
SN - 0304-3894
VL - 416
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials
JF - Journal of Hazardous Materials
M1 - 126140
ER -