Are the tidal flooded forests sinks for litter in the Amazonian estuary?

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 161; no. Pt A; p. 111732
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Myckey, Schmid, Kurt, Andrade, Marcelo C., Andrades, Ryan, Pegado, Tamyris, Giarrizzo, Tommaso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Amazon; Aquatic ecosystems; Brackishwater environment; Brazil; Ecosystem; Ecosystem management; Ecosystems; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental policy; Estuaries; Estuarine dynamics; Estuarine ecosystem; Estuarine ecosystems; Estuarine pollution; Forests; Humans; Litter; Marine environment; Missing plastic; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Pollution; Public policy; Qualitative analysis; Sandbanks; Strategic management; Substrates; Terrestrial environments; Tidal floods; Waste Products - analysis; Waste retention; Brazil; Missing plastic; Amazon; Waste retention; Estuarine ecosystem; Plastic pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111732

Pollution in aquatic ecosystems is rapidly becoming one of the world's greatest ecological challenges. Given their intermediate position between terrestrial and marine environments, estuarine systems are especially vulnerable to human pollution. Amazonian estuaries have unique characteristics, such as heterogeneous landscape intercalating tracts of vegetation with sandbanks and beaches. In the present study, we provide the first qualitative and quantitative data on litter retention in an Amazonian estuary, comparing vegetated and bare substrate areas. Overall, 12,003 items were recovered, with a mean ± SD density and weight of 1.69 ± 2.16 items/m2 and 78.08 ± 93.11 g/m2, respectively. Plastic was the principal material (80.97%) found. The highest number of items was found in the vegetated habitats (73.11%), indicating these areas as the most affected by plastic pollution. Our findings provide important insights for future research planning and implementation of effective public policies for conservation and management of these important ecosystems. •First qualitative and quantitative results of litter retention in an Amazon estuary•Plastic was the most abundant solid waste found in the study area (80.97%).•Vegetation acts as a natural sink, retaining drifting waste from rivers.•Areas of vegetation in the estuary are hotspots for the accumulation of litter.