Plastic Crabs and Birds an update

 

Plastic pollution

Research indicates that the natural snail shells were in decline, so it's suspected it might be becoming easier for the animals to find an artificial alternative. And lighter, plastic 'shells' might even help smaller, weaker crabs to survive because they are easier to carry.

Bottle Top Crab

There is certainly a great deal of plastic in the marine environment for the animals to choose from. A recent study that attempted to quantify the scale of plastic pollution estimated that at least 171 trillion pieces of plastic are now floating in our oceans.

That could nearly triple by 2040 if no action is taken, experts have warned.

But there is hope that 2024 could see nations finally sign up to a long-awaited global treaty to end the scourge of plastics.

"Instead of being adorned with a beautiful snail shell, which is what we're used to seeing - they would have a red plastic bottle cap on their back or piece of light bulb."

Light bulb Crab

Toothpaste top Crab

But there is hope that 2024 could see nations finally sign up to a long-awaited global treaty to end the scourge of plastic.

Plastic Birds

Imagine that you are constantly eating, but slowly starving to death. Hundreds of species of marine mammals, fish, birds, and sea turtles face this risk every day when they mistake plastic debris for food. 

Plastic debris can be found in oceans around the world. Scientists have estimated that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic weighing more than a quarter of a million tons floating at sea globally. 

Most of this plastic debris comes from sources on land and ends up in oceans and bays due largely to poor waste management.

Plastic does not biodegrade, but at sea large pieces of plastic break down into increasingly smaller fragments that are easy for birds to consume. 

A nose for sulfur

in the early 1970s showed that tube-nosed seabirds use their powerful sense of smell or olfaction, seabirds are attracted to dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a naturally scented sulfur compound. DMS comes from marine algae.

However, a study just published proposes a new explanation: For many imperiled species, marine plastic debris also produces an odor that the birds associate with food and is very similar to DMS

So much plastic trash is flowing into the oceans that 90 percent of seabirds eat it now and virtually everyone will be consuming it by 2050 In a new study published this week, tracks for the first time how widespread plastics have become inside seabirds around the world.

Scientists have been tracking plastic ingestion by seabirds for decades. In 1960, plastic was found in the stomachs of fewer than five percent, but by 1980, it had jumped to 80 percent. 

The most disturbing finding is. 

“Global plastic production doubles every 11 years “So in the next 11 years, we’ll make as much plastic as we’ve made since plastic was invented. 

You can help: pay attention to how much plastic you throw away—grocery bags, Styrofoam cups, water bottles, packaging—and try to use less and recycle and dispose of plastic correctly

sometimes I get a feeling that it is all s bit too late

Cheers Bryan