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Monitoring plastic pollution using bioindicators: a global review and recommendations for marine environments
Savoca, Matthew S.; Abreo, Neil Angelo; Arias, Andres H.; Baes, Laura; Baini, Matteo; Bergami, Elisa; Brander, Susanne; Canals, Miquel; Choy, C. Anela; Corsi, Ilaria; De Witte, Bavo; Domit, Camila; Dudas, Sarah; Duncan, Emily M.; Fernández, Claudia E.; Fossi, Maria Cristina; Garcés-Ordóñez, Ostin; Godley, Brendan J.; González-Paredes, Daniel; Carman, Victoria González; Hamilton, Bonnie M.; Hardesty, Britta Denise; Hong, Sang Hee; Kahane-Rapport, Shirel; Kashiwabara, Lauren M.; Lacerda, Mariana Baptista; Luna-Jorquera, Guillermo; Manno, Clara; Nelms, Sarah E.; Panti, Cristina; Pérez-Venegas, Diego J.; Pham, Christopher K.; Provencher, Jennifer F.; Purca, Sara; Rashid, Harunur; Rodríguez, Yasmina; Sparks, Conrad; Sun, ChengJun; Thiel, Martin; Tsangaris, Catherine; Santos, Robson G. (2025). Monitoring plastic pollution using bioindicators: a global review and recommendations for marine environments. Environmental science: Advances 4(1): 10-32. https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4va00174e
In: Environmental science: Advances. Royal Society of Chemistry: Cambridge. ISSN 2754-7000
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Author 
Keywords
    Fish
    Litter
    Trends
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    debris ingestion; easter-island; sea-turtles; microplastics; seabirds; bay; prevalence
Author  Top 
  • De Witte, B.
Abstract
    Monitoring the movement of plastic into marine food webs is central to understanding and mitigating the plastic pollution crisis. Bioindicators have been a component of the environmental monitoring toolkit for decades, but how, where, and which bioindicators are used in long-term monitoring programs has not yet been assessed. Moreover, these programs have yet to be synthesized and evaluated globally. Doing so is imperative if we are to learn from these pioneering programs and expand on their efforts. We reviewed global monitoring programs using bioindicators that focus on plastic pollution and found 11 worldwide that met our definition of long-term monitoring. Limited data availability and few programs in the Global South hinder progress on tracking global trends. Most commonly, long-term programs either tracked macroplastics with opportunistic sampling of large vertebrates or monitored microplastics with targeted sampling of invertebrates. These long-term bioindicators could be incorporated as essential ocean variables in the global ocean observing system, and thus provide critical insights into the trajectory and effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. However, to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of these monitoring efforts, there is a pressing need for the implementation of harmonized and standardized methods, increased collaboration between regions, and greater support for data sharing and open science practices. By addressing these challenges and expanding the geographic scope of monitoring programs, we can better inform evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at mitigating plastic pollution on a global scale.
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