Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 123-133.doi: 10.11978/2020137CSTR: 32234.14.2020137

• Marine Environment Protection • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Distribution characteristics of plastic debris and microplastics on the beaches of Ganquan Island and Quanfu Island in Xisha Sea

FANG Zhou1,4(), TAN Fei1,4, YANG Hongqiang1,3,5(), XU Huilong1, XU Xiangrong2,3, LI Hengxiang2,3()   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    3. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China
    4. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    5. Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha 573199, China
  • Received:2020-11-20 Revised:2021-03-02 Online:2021-09-10 Published:2021-03-10
  • Contact: YANG Hongqiang,LI Hengxiang E-mail:13763057862@163.com;hqyang@scsio.ac.cn;hxli@scsio.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA13010103);Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA13020101);Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(GML2019ZD0404);Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(GML2019ZD0206);Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences(ISEE2019ZR03);Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences(ISEE2018PY01)

Abstract:

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous on beaches throughout the world, which has become a threat to marine environment. However, plastic pollution in remote arears has been rarely reported. This study investigates the pollution and distribution of plastic waste on Ganquan Island and Quanfu Island in the Xisha Sea. Results show that plastic debris and microplastics were widespread over these island beaches, although these islands are far from the lands and direct impacts of human activities. The average abundance and weight of plastic debris were (85.07±70.48) item∙m-2and (40.23±78.15) g∙m-2, respectively, whereas the average abundance of microplastics was (1774.75±1534.37) item∙m-2or (100.82±87.18) item∙kg-1. The abundance of plastic debris or microplastics was not statistically different between Ganquan Island and Quanfu Island, but plastic debris and microplastics along the inner atoll were more than those around the outer atoll of the islands. There was a significant linear correlation in the abundances of microplastics and plastic debris. Infrared spectroscopy analysis shows that the main polymer components including polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc., especially polystyrene foam that had a higher number in the samples. Plastic debris and microplastics in the uninhabited islands of Xisha might have been transported from other areas, and their spatial distributions around the islands had been affected by multiple forces, such as ocean currents, hydrodynamic condition and plastic fragments.

Key words: microplastic, plastic debris, island, pollution, distribution

CLC Number: 

  • P762.9