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REVIEW article

Front. Mar. Sci., 02 February 2023

Sec. Marine Pollution

Volume 10 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1070575

Marine litter colonization: Methodological challenges and recommendations

  • 1. Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru

  • 2. Mining Engineering Section, Engineering Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima, Peru

  • 3. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Lima, Peru

  • 4. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Dinâmica dos Oceanos e da Terra, Departamento de Geologia e Geofísica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • 5. School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

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Abstract

Marine litter colonization by marine invertebrate species is a major global concern resulting in the dispersal of potentially invasive species has been widely reported. However, there are still several methodological challenges and uncertainties in this field of research. In this review, literature related to field studies on marine litter colonization was compiled and analyzed. A general overview of the current knowledge is presented. Major challenges and knowledge gaps were also identified, specifically concerning: 1) uncertainties in species identification, 2) lack of standardized sampling methodologies, 3) inconsistencies with the data reported, and 4) insufficient chemical-analytical approaches to understand this phenomenon. Aiming to serve as a guide for future studies, several recommendations are provided for each point, particularly considering the inaccessibility to advanced techniques and laboratories.

1 Introduction

Marine litter is defined as all synthetic, or processed material, discarded, disposed or abandoned in the marine environment or beaches. One of the possible classifications of litter is based on material categories, such as plastics, metals, and glass, among others, and one of the main types of litter found in these environments is plastic (Ribeiro et al., 2021; Póvoa et al., 2022). Plastics are some of the most widely used materials in virtually all industries and commercially available products (Andrady and Neal, 2009; Hahladakis et al., 2018). Since the 1950s, plastic production has increased continuously due to its versatility, lightweight, resistance to corrosion, and low production costs (Andrady, 2017; Tuladhar and Yin, 2019; Torres and De-la-Torre, 2021). However, due to insufficient solid waste management systems, infrastructure and reach, as well as the lack of environmental awareness (Prata et al., 2020; Mihai et al., 2021; Wichmann et al., 2022), plastic pollution has become one of the major issues threatening the world oceans (Walker, 2018; Chassignet et al., 2021; Haarr et al., 2022; De-la-Torre et al., 2022b). Upon entering marine and coastal environments, plastic litter interacts with biota in multiple ways (Costa et al., 2022). For instance, plastic ingestion and entanglement or entrapment are recognized as some of the most impactful plastic-biota interactions, which could compromise the survival of many top predators, such as marine birds, turtles, and mammals (Poeta et al., 2017; Battisti et al., 2019; Staffieri et al., 2019; Santillán et al., 2020; Ammendolia et al., 2022; Fukuoka et al., 2022; Provencher et al., 2022). A less considered plastic-biota interaction is the fouling of plastic litter surfaces, thus, acting as substrates for the development of invertebrate species or microbial communities (Barnes, 2002; Gong et al., 2019; Pinochet et al., 2020; Wright et al., 2021) (Figure 1). The most of plastic litter is affected by ocean surface currents due to the positive buoyancy of this object in seawater, possibly travelling for interoceanic distances (Maes and Blanke, 2015; Luna-Jorquera et al., 2019; Thiel et al., 2021). Other types of litter might reach the bottom sediments and being colonized by benthic organisms. However, less dense material can later detach or resurface. The transport of colonized litter for long distances is known as ocean rafting (Tutman et al., 2017). This phenomenon represents a threat to foreign ecosystems through the arrival of plastic rafts, which have been reported to host alien invasive species (AIS) (Rech et al., 2016; Rech et al., 2018b; Gracia and Rangel-Buitrago, 2020).

Figure 1

Figure 1

Examples of a plastic bottle (A) colonized by the bivalve Semimytilus algosus(B), anemones (Order: Actiniaria) (C) y bristle worms (Class: Polychaeta) (D), and a rubber boot (E) colonized by Balanus sp. (F). (Photographs by G.E.D.).

AIS is defined as exotic species that could potentially generate an impact on the ecosystem they invade (Koh et al., 2013). Upon settlement in a foreign environment, AIS may lead to the displacement of native species, particularly endemic ones, and are very difficult to eradicate (García-Gómez et al., 2021). They also represent a significant economic cost, as they compromise natural resources used to produce market goods and services (García-Gómez et al., 2021). While non-native species are able to travel long distances by natural means, like attaching to migratory biota (Thiel and Gutow, 2005), the influence of anthropic activities is undeniable. For instance, sessile species may be transported attached to ship hulls (Hänfling et al., 2011), transported in ship ballast water (Walker et al., 2019), and, as aforementioned, floating plastic litter may also act as a vector of AIS (Tutman et al., 2017; Rech et al., 2021). The latter has been subject to significant research in the last decade (Póvoa et al., 2021). However, multiple factors influencing the transportation of AIS through floating litter remain poorly understood, such as the main types of litter and polymers carrying attached biota, significant donors and recipients of colonized litter, and their overall contribution to the global issue of AIS dispersal (Rech et al., 2016).

Due to the relevancy and risk that marine litter represents for the dispersion of non-native and potentially invasive species, multiple authors have compiled and analyzed the literature. For instance, Kiessling et al. (2015) compiled studies on organisms that inhabit floating marine litter. The characteristics of the litter and biological traits of associated species were analyzed to understand their colonizing behavior. However, in the last six years, recent studies have allowed researchers to elucidate new findings related to marine litter colonization that were not previously understood, such as the influence of chemical-analytical aspects of synthetic substrates and the use of genetic identification of fouling species (e.g., molecular analyzes). More recently, García-Gómez et al. (2021) carried out a literature search aiming to compare the potential of plastic as a vector of non-native species compared to other sources of dispersal (e.g., ship hull biofouling and ballast waters). Also, their analysis of the composition of fouling communities on marine litter substrates, primarily plastic, indicated that these species generally have a short life cycle and larval development. Póvoa et al. (2021) conducted a literature review focused on the research questions proposed by Rech et al. (2016) and Gracia C. et al. (2018). Although the aforementioned studies correctly compiled information regarding marine litter colonization and carried out multiple analyzes, it is necessary to carry out an updated literature search to analyze the multiple challenges that remain in this field of research. Hence, in the present review, an updated overview of the current knowledge regarding the occurrence of marine litter colonized by marine macroinvertebrates is provided. We aim to identify and discuss the various factors surrounding this field of research and establish key recommendations to guide future studies, particularly concerning sampling, species identification, litter data reporting, and chemical characterization methodologies.

2 Literature search methodology

The literature search was conducted adjusting De-la-Torre et al.’s (2022a) criteria to the topic of the present study. On the 10th of August 2022, the Scopus (https://www.scopus.com/) database was consulted with the keywords “litter” OR “plastic” in conjunction with “fouling” OR “rafting” OR “invasive species” OR “non-native” OR “biological invasion” in conjunction with “marine” OR “ocean”. The search was carried out within the title, abstract, and keywords of the documents in the database. Publication year intervals were set from 2000 to 2023. Additionally, three document types (editorials, book chapters, and reviews) and the subject areas (Computer Science, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Economics, and Business management) were excluded from the search. The search resulted in 274 documents, which were exported to the virtual platform Rayyan (https://www.rayyan.ai/), where the title and abstract of each document were revised in detail to determine whether to include or exclude studies according to a specific criteria. Studies were included if reports of colonizing organisms on marine litter (either marine or coastal zones), including those recovered from benthic areas, were presented. Only field studies (e.g., marine litter surveys) were included. Studies conducting involving litter colonization under controlled experimental conditions were excluded from the analysis.

3 Results and discussion

A total of 39 documents were selected. Relevant information (time, location, environmental matrix, number of species, type of litter, and sources) from each study was extracted to obtain a better understanding of the current state of the knowledge. Table 1 summarizes the main elements of each study. Additionally, a geographic map was constructed indicating the main locations of each of the consulted studies (Figure 2). As shown in Figure 2, most studies were conducted in South America, Oceania, and Europe, with a single study reported on the Antarctic Peninsula by Barnes and Fraser (2003), while East Asia and Africa have been poorly assessed, as well as the coasts surrounding the Indian Ocean, and the east coast of North America. It should be mentioned that the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami sparked various studies conducted in the following years investigating marine litter arriving from Japan to North America (North Pacific Ocean) (Carlton et al., 2017; McCuller and Carlton, 2018; Póvoa et al., 2021).

Table 1

Country Specific zone Environmental Matrix Sampling year Sampling type Species list 1 Taxonomic class 2 Type of litter Source Polymer types Ref.
Peru Lima-Cañete Beach 2019-2020 Whole beach survey Balanus laevis
Semimytilus algosus
Prisogaster niger
Alia unifasciata
Perumytilus purpuratus
Hyalella sp.
Tetrapygus niger
Ocypode occidentalis
Emerita analoga
Chiton cumingsii
Tegula atra
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Thecostraca
Ophiuroidea
Malacostraca
Polychaeta
Echinoidea
Polyplacophora
Clothing
Bottles
Food containers
Plastic bags
Sheetings
Monofilament line
Fishing net
Other plastic
Timber
Land-based (81.5%)
Sea-based (18.5%)
Polyester/PET (18.5%)
Nylon/PA (11.1%)
PP (25.9%)
LDPE (22.2%)
Latex (3.7%)
(De-la-Torre et al., 2021)
Spain Gijon port Beach 2017 Whole beach survey Platynereis dumerilii
Syllis gracilis
Mytilus edulis
Patella vulgata
Polychaeta
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Plastic bag
Bottles
Fabric
Buoy
Fishing gear
EPS
Plastic debris
Land-based
Sea-based
(Ibabe et al., 2020)
Pacific Ocean North Pacific Subtropical Gyre Ocean 2012 Floating debris picked up manually Class: Hydrozoa
Actiniidae
Family: Actiniidae
Family: Metridiidae
Amphinome rostrata
Chaetopterus sp.
Parasabella sp.
Hipponoe gaudichaudi
Lepidonotus sp.
Mytilus sp.
Fiona pinnata
Lottia pelta
Lepas spp.
Idotea metallica
Pentidotea wosnesenskii
Glebocarcinus amphioetus
Plagusia squamosa
Planes major
Planes marinus
Membranipora spp.
Psenes sp.
Pomacentridae
Hydrozoa
Hexacorallia
Polychaeta
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Thecostraca
Malacostraca
Gymnolaemata
Actinopterygii
Buoy
Toy ball
Bottle cap
Flat piece of plastic
Bottle
Boat bumper
Land-based
Sea-based
(Gil and Pfaller, 2016)
Turkey Sarayköy Beach Beach 2016-2017 OSPAR transect protocol Mytilus sp.
Family: Balanidae
Class: Gastropoda
Phylum: Bryozoan
Bivalvia
Thecostraca
Gastropoda
Plastic bottle
Foam
Shoe
Land-based (Aytan et al., 2019)
Brazil Ilha Grande Bay Beach 2018-2020 Along the strandline Amphibalanus
improvisus
Amphibalanus
reticulatus
Amphibalanus sp.
Newmanella radiata
Lepas anatifera
Ostrea puelchana
Saccostrea cuculatta
Hydroides elegans
Hydroides sp.
Family: Membraniporidae
Tubastraea coccinea
Tubastraea sp.
Tubastraea tagusensis
Thecostraca
Bivalvia
Polychaeta
Gymnolaemata
Anthozoa
Caps
Shoes
Buoy
Shoes
Rubbers
Styrofoam
Plastic fragments
Land-based
Sea-based
(Póvoa et al., 2022)
Brazil Ilha Grande Bay Beach and deep sea 2012-2014 (Benthos)
2018-2020 (Beach)
Scuba diving
Along the strandline
Tubastraea coccinea
Tubastraea tagusensis
Hexacorallia Buoy
EPS
Rope
Electric cable
Flip-flop (shoe)
Wood
Tire
Glass bottle
Land-based (75%)
Sea-based (25%)
(Mantelatto et al., 2020)
Spain Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean) Beach and sea 2020-2021 (Trawling)
2020 (Beach)
Trawling
Along the strandline
Spirobranchus triqueter
Novocrania sp.
Chorizopora brongniartii
Scyliorhinus sp.
Arbopercula tenella
Aetea sica
Annectocyma sp.
Cryptosula pallasiana
Fenestrulina malusii
Phallusia mammillata
Ophiothrix fragilis
Barbatia barbata
Aplousina sp.
Copidozum tenuirostre
Escharella variolosa
Hagiosynodos latus
Myriapora truncata
Plagioecia sp.
Reptadeonella violacea
Schizomavella cornuta
Schizoporella dunkeri Alcyonium palmatum
Eunicella verrucosa
Lepas anatifera
Leptogorgia sarmentosa
Neopycnodonte cochlear
Polychaeta
Craniata
Gymnolaemata
Chondrichthyes
Stenolaemata
Ascidiacea
Ophiuroidea
Bivalvia
Stenolaemata
Anthozoa
Thecostraca
Not specified PE (47%)
PP (13.7%)
PET (11.8%)
Chlorinated poly-ethylene (CPE) (9.8%)
PS (7.8%)
PU (3.9%)
PVC (3.9%)
PA (2.0%)
(Subías-Baratau et al., 2022)
Argentina Mar Chiquita, Buenos Aires Beach 2017-2018 Debris collected from bins at beach Amphibalanus improvisus
Brachidontes rodriguezii
Ostrea sp.
Membranipora sp.
Amphisbetia operculata
Class: Polychaeta
Thecostraca
Bivalvia
Gymnolaemata
Hydrozoa
Polychaeta
Fishing line
Buoy
Fishing rope
Cap
Swim googles
Strap
Plastic bottle
Sunglasses
Food film
Backpack strap
Electric cable
Aluminized paper
Hose
Tire
Other plastics
Land-based (66.6%)
Sea-based (33.3%)
(Rumbold et al., 2020)
Croatia Mar Adriático Sea 2014 Floating debris picked up manually Planes minutus
Liocarcinus navigator
Malacostraca Tire
Sandal
Shoe
Land-based (100% (Tutman et al., 2017)
Colombia Atlantico department Beach NS Transect protocol Arbopercula tenella
Arbopercula angulata
3 unidentified bryozoan
Lepas anserifera
Class: Polychaeta
Gymnolaemata
Thecostraca
Polychaeta
Wood
Propagule
Plastic debris
Cap
Plastic jar
Plastic bottle
Plastic ring
Paint pot
Glass bottle
Other plastics
Land-based (Gracia C. et al., 2018)
Colombia Atlantico and Magdalena department Beach 2018 Perna viridis Bivalvia Buoy Sea-based (Gracia and Rangel-Buitrago, 2020)
Italy and Portugal Venice and Algarve Beach 2016 Whole beach survey Austrominius modestus
Amphibalanus amphitrite
Anomia epphipium
Hesperibalanus fallax
Magallana angulata
Bugula neritina
Balanus trigonus
Hiatella arctica
Hydroides sanctaecrucis
Hydroides elegans
Sabellaria alveolata
Serpula vemicularis
Spirobranchus triqueter
Lepas pectinata
Lepas anatifera
Mytilus edulis
Mytilus galloprovincialis
Mytilus sp.
Modiolula sp.
Ostrea edulis
Chthamalus montagui
Perforatus
Verruca stroemia
Class: Ophiuroidea
Thecostraca
Bivalvia
Gymnolaemata
Polychaeta
Ophiuroidea
Buoy
Mussel bag
Fishing trap
Ropes
Plastic bottles
Other plastics
Processed timber
Land-based (36%)
Sea-based (64%)
(Rech et al., 2018b)
Chile Easter Island Beach 2017 Along the strandline Family: Serpulidae
Planes major
Halobates sericeus
Lepas anatifera
Chthamalidae sp.
Jellyella eburnea
Pocillopora sp.
Class: Hydrozoa
Other
Polychaeta
Malacostraca
Insecta
Thecostraca
Gymnolaemata
Anthozoa
Hydrozoa
Bottle caps
Plastic bottles
Crates/Baskets
Fishing gear
Rope
Other plastic
Land-based
Sea-based
(Rech et al., 2018c)
Australia Victoria Beach 2019 Not specified Lepas pectinata Thecostraca Bottle Land-based (Cooke and Sumer, 2021)
Spain Asturias Beach 2016 Whole beach survey Amphibalanus amphitrite
Austrominius modestus
Perforatus
Chthamalus stellatus
Neoacasta laevigata
Lepas anatifera
Lepas pectinata
Pachygrapsus marmoratus
Polybius henslowii
Magallana gigas
Mytilus edulis
Mytilus galloprovincialis
Mytilus trossulus
Tritia reticulata
Eumida bahusiensis
Neodexiospira alveolata
Paragorgia arborea
Thecostraca
Malacostraca
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Polychaeta
Anthozoa
Bottles
Fishing gear
Land-based (~40%)
Sea-based (~60%
(Miralles et al., 2018)
Italy Ganzirri (Sicily) Beach 2016-2019 Not specified Megabalanus tulipiformis
Pachylasma giganteum
Octolasmis sp.
Adna anglica
Alcyonium coralloides
Coenocyathus cylindricus
Desmophyllum pertusum
Desmophyllum dianthus
Family: Caryophylliidae
Madrepora oculata
Order: Zoantharia
Errina aspera
Sertularella sp.
Family: Sertulariidae
Class: Hydrozoa
Pedicularia sicula
Neopycnodonte cochlear
Striarca lactea
Family: Serpulidae
Metavermilia multicristata
Vermiliopsis sp
Filogranula sp.
Filogranula gracilis
Filograna sp
Semivermilia agglutinata
Semivermilia sp.
Serpula vermicularis
Placostegus tridentatus
Sycon raphanus
Order: Cheilostomatida
Celleporina sp
Cellepora sp
Haplopoma sp.
Cellaria salicornoides
Puellina cfr gattyae
Puellina sp.
Order: Cyclostomatida
Thecostraca
Anthozoa
Hydrozoa
Gastropoda
Bivalvia
Polychaeta
Calcarea
Gymnolaemata
Stenolaemata
Fishing gear Sea-based (Battaglia et al., 2019)
USA Beach 2012-2017 Not specified 289 species vessels, docks, buoys, totes (crates), wood, and many other objects, identified as JTMD Land-based
Sea-based
(Carlton et al., 2017)
Spain Asturias Beach 2016 Whole beach survey Lepas anatifera
Lepas anserifera
Lepas pectinata
Dosima fascicularis
Austrominius modestus
Chthamalus stellatus
Chthamalus montagui
Balanidae sp
Verruca stroemia
Caprella andreae
Mytilus edulis
Mytilus galloprovincialis
Mytilus sp
Crassostrea gigas
Ostrea stentina
Gibbula umbilicali
Spirobranchus triqueter
Spirobranchus taeniatus
Serpula columbiana
Neodexiospira sp.
Spirobranchus sp.
Bougainvillia muscus
Obelia dichotoma
Helix aspersa
Malacostraca
Thecostraca
Malacostraca
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Polychaeta
Hydrozoa
Hard plastic
Other plastic
Foam
Non-plastic
Land-based
Sea-based
(Rech et al., 2018a)
Sweden Gothenburg Beach Transect protocol 63 species Bivalvia
Phylum: Bryozoan
Polyplacophora
Gastropoda
Malacostraca
Polychaeta
Thecostraca
Others
Glass
Ceramic
Wood
Fabric
Metal
Plastic
(Garcia-Vazquez et al., 2018)
South Pacific Ocean Ocean 2015-2017 Floating debris recovery using nets, trawls, and snorkeling Campanulariidae sp. 1
Campanulariidae sp. 2
Obelia sp.
Pocillopora sp.
Fiona pinnata
Hipponoe gaudichaudi
Lepas sp.
Lepas pectinata
Order: Amphipoda
Stenothoe gallensis
Caprella andreae
Planes minutus
Planes marinus
Idotea metallica
Idotea sp.
Jellyella eburnea
Jellyella tuberculata
Hirundichthys sp.
Cheilopogon sp.
Others
Hydrozoa
Anthozoa
Gastropoda
Polychaeta
Thecostraca
Malacostraca
Gymnolaemata
Plastic pieces
Jerrycans and buckets
Crates and baskets
Buoys
Others
Land-based (28.8%)
Sea-based (41.2%)
PP (3.4%)
EV (3.4%)
PE (93.1%)
(Rech et al., 2021)
Norway Svalbard Beach 2017 Transect protocol Electra spp.
Eucratea loricata
Lepas anatifera
Semibalanus balanoides
Class: Gastropoda
Mytilus sp.
Gymnolaemata
Thecostraca
Gastropoda
Bivalvia
Fishing box
Barrel
Containers
Land-based
Sea-based
(Węsławski and Kotwicki, 2018)
Malaysia Penang and Langkawi Beach Whole beach survey Acanthodesia perambulata
Acanthodesia irregulata
Jellyella eburnea
Gymnolaemata Plastic debris
Glass bottle
(Taylor and Tan, 2015)
Chile Coquimbo Ocean 2001-2005 Floating debris picked up manually 102 species Ascidiacea
Polychaeta
Malacostraca
Thecostraca
Others
Buoys Sea-based (Astudillo et al., 2009)
Antarctica Adelaide Island Beach 2003 Not specified Laevilitorina antarctica
Aimulosia antarctica
Arachnopusia inchoata
Ellisina antarctica
Fenestrulina rugula
Micropora brevissima
Others
Demospongiae
Polychaeta
Hydrozoa
Gastropoda
Plastic band Land-based (Barnes and Fraser, 2003)
Uruguay Rocha department Beach 2014 Not specified Pinctada imbricata Bivalvia Rope Land-based (Marques and Breves, 2014)
Brazil Rio de Janeiro Beach 2012 Not specified Petaloconchus varians Gastropoda Marine debris (Breves and Skinner, 2014)
The Netherlands Texel Beach 2009 Not specified Favia fragum Anthozoa Metal cylinder (Hoeksema et al., 2012)
Brazil Sao Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Beach Not specified Tubastraea coccinea
Tubastraea tagusensis
Anthozoa Styrofoam (Faria and Kitahara, 2020)
Iran Coast of the Persian Gulf Beach 2016-2018 Along the strandline Amphibalanus amphitrite
Microeuraphia permitin
Striatobalanus amaryllis
Chthamalus barnesi
Spirobranchus kraussii
Spirorbis sp.
Hydroides sp.
Saccostrea cucullata
Isognomon legumen
Class: Bivalvia
Diodora funiculata
Chiton sp.
Parasmittina egyptica
Microporella browni
Antropora tincta
Paracyathus stokesii
Class: Ascidiacea
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Thecostraca
Polychaeta
Polyplacophora
Gymnolaemata
Anthozoa
Ascidiacea
Plastic
Wood
Glass
Metal cans
(Shabani et al., 2019)
North Pacific Ocean Ocean 2009-2012 Floating debris picked up with a net 95 species Polychaeta
Malacostraca
Thecostraca
Pycnogonida
Gymnolaemata
Stenolaemata
Perciformes
Phylum: Chordata
Heterotrichea
Anthozoa
Hydrozoa
Ophiuroidea
Polythalamea
Bivalvia
Gastropoda
Rhabditophora
Turbellaria
Calcarea
Demospongiae
Rigid fragment
Rope clumps
Flexible substrates
Expanded foam
(Goldstein et al., 2014)
Stewart Island
Falkland Island
Bird Island
Beach 2001-2004 Not specified Lepas australis Thecostraca Plastic debris
Wood
(Barnes et al., 2004)
New Zealand Western Coromandel Peninsula Beach 2015-2016 Transect protocol NS Phylum: Porifera
Phylum: Hydrozoa
Phylum: Bryozoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Phylum: Mollusca
Phylum: Annelida
Plastic
Ceramic/glass
Metal
Cloth
Foam
Rubber
Wood
(Campbell et al., 2017)
Turkey Mersin Bay Ocean Trawling Bougainvillia muscus
Spirobranchus triqueter
Hydroides sp.
Serpula sp.
Serpula vermicularis
Order: Sabellida
Phylum: Bryozoa
Neopycnodonte cochlear
Musculus subpictus
Anomia ephippium
Corbula gibba
Sephia officinalis
Diodora sp.
Lepas anatifera
Perforatus
Galathea intermedia
Ascidiella aspersa
Phallusia mammillata
Ciona intestinalis
Styela sp.
Hydrozoa
Polychaeta
Phylum: Bryozoa
Bivalvia
Cephalopoda
Gastropoda
Hexanauplia
Malacostraca
Ascidiacea
Plastic debris EPC (2%)
PE (72%)
PET (3%)
Poly-E (1%)
PP (12%)
NY-6 (1%)
PVC (1%)
PS (1%)
SAC (1%)
PET/PP (1%)
Unidentified (7%)
(Gündoğdu et al., 2017)
Israel Shefayim Beach 2014 Not specified Cerithiopsis tenthrenois
Crisilla semistriata
Arca noae
Striarca lactea
Gregariella cf. ehrenbergi
Musculus subpictus
Musculus costulatus
Lithophaga
Modiolus cf. barbatus
Arcuatula senhousia
Brachidontes pharaonis
Septifer cumingii
Mytilaster cf. minimus
Pinctada imbricata radiata
Ostrea edulis
Dendostrea cf. folium
Malleus regula
Chama pacifica
Sphenia binghami
Cucurbitula cymbium
Rocellaria dubia
Gastropoda
Bivalvia
Buoy Sea-based (Ivkić et al., 2019)
Australia Ocean Trawling Phylum: Bryozoa
Lepas spp.
Order: Isopoda
Halobates sp.
Phylum: Annelida
Phylum: Bryozoa
Phylum: Annelida
Insecta
Malacostraca
Thecostraca
Plastic fragments PE (83%)
PP (17%)
(Reisser et al., 2014)
Mediterranean Sea Ligurian sea Ocean 1997 Floating objects were collected Arbacia lixula
Bowerbankia gracilis
Callopora lineata
Clytia hemisphaerica
Cymodocea nodosa
Doto sp.
Electra posidoniae
Eudendrium sp.
Fiona pinnata
Gonothyrea loveni
Idotea metallica
Laomedea angulata
Lepas pectinata
Membranipora membranacea
Nereis falsa
Obelia dichotoma
Phtisica marina
Spirobranchus polytrema
Echinoidea
Gymnolaemata
Hydrozoa
Gastropoda
Malacostraca
Thecostraca
Polychaeta
Plastic bag
Hard plastic debris
Styrofoam
Bottles
Wood
Fishing gear
(Aliani and Molcard, 2003)
Mediterranean Sea Gulf of Pozzuoli Ocean 2019 Trawling at different depths Phylum: Bryozoa
Phylum: Cnidaria
Phylum: Porifera
Phylum: Chordata
Phylum: Arthropoda
Phylum: Mollusca
Phylum: Annelida
Cotton
Glass
Metal
Nylon
Paper
Plastic
Pottery
Concrete
Rubber
Synthetic textile
Wood
Land-based (83.6%)
Sea-based (16.4%)
(Crocetta et al., 2020)
USA Beach 2012-2017 Large-scale landing on coastlines (no specific methodology) 49 species of bryozoans Stenolaemata
Gymnolaemata
Totes, crates or containers
Vessels
Buoys, floats
Other items
Post and beam wood
Trees/logs
Pontoon sections
Misawa docks
Land-based
Sea-based
(McCuller and Carlton, 2018)
Morocco Mediterranean coast Beach 2022 Whole beach survey Lepas pectinata
Perforatus
Lepas anatifera
Phylum: Bryozoa
Class: Thecostraca
Spirobranchus triqueter
Neopycnodonte cochlear
Hydroides sp
Ophiothrix fragilis
Eunicella verrucosa
Myriapora truncuta
Thecostraca
Phylum: Bryozoa
Polychaeta
Bivalvia
Ophiuroidea
Octocorallia
Gymnolaemata
Bottles <2 L
Bottles >2 L
Food containers
Plastic bags
Plastic buoys
Ropes
Plastic tube
Clothing, shoes
Bottles and jars
Other wood
Land-based (93.3%)
Sea-based (6.7%)
(Mghili et al., 2022)

Characteristics of methodologies and results of the 39 studies evaluated.

ABS-indicates acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; PC-indicates polycarbonate; PE-indicates polyethylene; LDPE-indicates low-density polyethylene; MDPE-indicates medium-density polyethylene; HDPE-indicates high-density polyethylene; PET-indicates polyethylene terephthalate; PMMA-indicates poly (methyl methacrylate); PP-indicates polypropylene; PTFE-indicates polytetrafluoroethylene; PS-indicates polystyrene; PVC-indicates polyvinyl chloride; PU-indicates polyurethane. Species in bold were identified as non-indigenous species or AIS.

1If organisms were not identified at species level, the lowest possible taxonomic classification was mentioned.

2If organisms were not identified at class level, the phylum was mentioned.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Geographic map indicating the marine litter colonization studies (red dots). The map was constructed using ArcGIS (version 10.7).

The studies consulted addressed multiple research questions involving the occurrence of colonized litter in diverse areas, as well as the transportation of colonized litter (rafting). Most studies surveyed stranded litter, although the focus of the studies differed depending on specific sources of contamination. For instance, Rech et al. (2018b) focused on understanding the contribution of mariculture areas on the release of rafting AIS in Europe, while Rech et al. (2018c) investigated the arrival of colonized litter on beaches of the Rapa Nui Island, a remote island in the South Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, De-la-Torre et al. (2021) highlighted that the Peruvian coast may act as a source of colonized marine litter rather than the arrival of rafts containing AIS. McCuller and Carlton (2018) focused on a very specific event (e.g., the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011) and its repercussion on transoceanic species dispersal on large-scale marine litter. On the other hand, Crocetta et al. (2020) investigated benthic marine litter composition and abundance of mega- and macrofauna by trawling at depths of 50 and 100 m. The number of studies focusing on benthic marine litter is reduced, while others combined approaches by investigating beaches, floating, and benthic marine litter (e.g., Subías-Baratau et al., 2022). Conducting multiple approaches allows researchers to understand important factors in the transport of floating marine litter, such as the role of biofouling on plastic sinking rates (Chen et al., 2019). While marine litter colonization remains less investigated than other dispersal pathways (García-Gómez et al., 2021), recent studies have provided multiple perspectives on the factors involved in biofouling colonization and dispersal. However, several challenges remain ahead.

As mentioned previously, 28 studies (71.8%) were conducted in coastal zones or beaches, while studies recovering fouled litter from the open ocean or sea are limited (11 studies, 28.2%) (Table 1). This is likely due to the ease and accessibility to coastal zones as also mentioned by Póvoa et al. (2021). Likewise, one study evaluated the state of colonization of submerged litter (Mantelatto et al., 2020), although submerged debris (generally dense materials) is unlikely to resurface and serve as AIS rafts. Nevertheless, submerged debris may be subject to abiotic influences (e.g., weathering conditions, water currents) and colonizing species than those experienced by floating debris.

Sampling methodologies have not been standardized to assess colonizing biota on beached litter. Seven studies (17.9%) chose to monitor the entire beach, from the tide line to the maximum limit of the beach (vegetation or trails) (e.g., Miralles et al., 2018; Rech et al., 2018a; Ibabe et al., 2020; De-la-Torre et al., 2021). This method (covering the entirety of the beach) allows recovering a greater amount of litter and obtaining a complete view of the abundance of litter per beach. However, this method may incur in sampling bias when the sampling length or quadrants dimensions are different across sampling locations, in addition to requiring more effort, as determined by Pizarro-Ortega et al. (2022). To this end, the resolution of sampling designs should be standardized and similar across sampling locations. Conversely, other studies (n = 5; 12.8%) followed the tidal lines in search of colonized litter (Rech et al., 2018c; Mantelatto et al., 2020; Póvoa et al., 2022; Subías-Baratau et al., 2022). With this method, it is possible to quickly assess the litter that has been in contact with the tides that are concentrated in the tide line. Regardless, focusing on the strandline or whole beach area may be indicators of incoming or accumulated colonized litter, respectively. Thus, studies should consider this interpretation to determine the methodology that better aligns with their objectives. Other studies ran transect- and quadrat-based sampling methods (n = 5; 12.8%) (Taylor and Tan, 2015; Gracia C. et al., 2018; Aytan et al., 2019). On several occasions, the sampling methodology was not specified (n = 9; 23.1%). It could be assumed that colonized litters were collected opportunistically, although important data, such as colonized litter density (e.g., colonized litters per total number of litter or beach area), is not obtained. The heterogeneity in the methodologies used to search for colonized litter makes the comparison between studies difficult. For this reason, it is necessary to reach a consensus regarding the methodology used for this purpose, as well as the reported data, as also mentioned by Póvoa et al. (2021). For example, very few studies reported the percentage of colonized litter with respect to the total number of litter found (Rech et al., 2018c; Póvoa et al., 2022). Also, no previous study reported the number of colonized (and non-colonized) marine litter per unit area.

A significant number of species have been reported, belonging to 31 taxonomic classes, as displayed in Table 1. While some authors focused on one or two relevant species (Gracia and Rangel-Buitrago, 2020; Cooke and Sumer, 2021), others report hundreds of species found as a result of more extensive sampling methodologies (Astudillo et al., 2009; Carlton et al., 2017). Some of the most frequent taxonomic classes among studies are Bivalvia (Phylum: Mollusca), Gastropoda (Phylum: Mollusca), Thecostraca (Phylum: Arthropoda), Malacostraca (Phylum: Arthropoda), Polychaeta (Phylum: Annelida), and Gymnolaemata (Phylum: Bryozoa). Most of the species in these classes are sessile or have a limited degree of mobility, while others, such as those of the class Malacostraca, have a higher degree of mobility. This suggests that, in terms of species transport, marine litter not only functions as a substrate for species proliferation but also as a potential hiding place for more mobile species. In a particular case, Subías-Baratau et al. (2022) reported the presence of egg capsules of a shark of the genus Scyliorhinus. This behavior would not only mean a possible dispersion of species, but also an impact on the survival of oviparous chondrichthyans. However, the dynamics between oviposition, dispersal and hatching of larger species require further investigation, as studies are limited (De-la-Torre et al., 2022c). It should be noted that biofilm-forming microbial communities that settle on the synthetic substrate in the first weeks in contact with seawater may influence macroinvertebrate assemblages. Diatoms and bacteria become attached to the surface of a substrate that is rich in protein, carbohydrates, and glycoproteins after being in contact with seawater; these organisms then secrete extracellular polymeric substances to become embedded (Müller et al., 2013). The proliferation of macroalgae and other organisms occurs later on (Kiessling et al., 2015). While this review focused on macroinvertebrates, the importance of the first biofilm-forming microbes to understanding complex macroinvertebrate assemblages on marine litter should be noted and further investigated.

Most of the studies reported native or cosmopolitan species (e.g., Lepas spp.) in their samples, or did not categorize them, while invasive species and their proportion with respect to the total species are reported in a few studies. For instance, in aquaculture areas of Italy and Portugal, Rech et al. (2018b) reported the presence of invasive species of the class Thecostraca [Amphibalanus amphitrite (Darwin, 1854), Austrominius modestus (Darwin, 1854), Balanus trigonus (Darwin, 1854) and Hesperibalanus fallax (Broch, 1927)], Polychaeta [Hydroides elegans (Haswell, 1883) and Hydroides sanctaecrucis (Krøyer, 1863)] and Bivalvia [Magallana angulata (Lamarck, 1819)]. Póvoa et al. (2022) found several species of anthozoans (Class: Anthozoa) classified as invasive [Tubastraea coccinea (Lesson, 1830), Tubastraea sp., and Tubastraea tagusensis (Wells, 1982)] mainly in polystyrene-based materials (e.g., buoys and expanded polystyrene) on Brazilian beaches. Likewise, the bivalve Saccostrea cuculatta (Born, 1778), and polychaete H. elegans in expanded polystyrene and plastic fragments, respectively. Although several studies recognize invasive species by comparing international databases (e.g., Global invasive species database, http://www.issg.org/database) and regional studies, considering the multiple species of various taxonomic levels, the list may be evolving. Regardless, it is almost impossible to determine the source of dispersal of non-native species that are already proliferating in foreign environments.

One of the main barriers in the study of invasive species is the identification of these at the species level as also mentioned by Póvoa et al. (2021). In multiple studies, organisms are identified at family, order, or class level (Gil and Pfaller, 2016; Carlton et al., 2017; De-la-Torre et al., 2021), which makes it difficult to determine potential invaders. However, several studies opted for the genetic identification of some potentially invasive species through DNA barcoding (Miralles et al., 2018; Rech et al., 2018a; Rech et al., 2018b; Rech et al., 2018c; Ibabe et al., 2020; Rech et al., 2021). For example, Rech et al. (2018a) identified species classified as invasive Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793), Ostrea stentina (Payraudeau, 1826) (class: Bivalvia), A. modestus (class: Thecostraca), Serpula columbiana (Johnson, 1901), and Neodexiospira sp. (class: Polychaeta) through DNA barcoding. The main limitation of DNA barcoding is the availability of reference libraries for taxonomic identification of the genetic sequence (Hellberg et al., 2016). However, new studies are constantly contributing to filling the gaps in reference libraries (Leite et al., 2020). On the other hand, DNA barcoding is not always readily available to research groups and institutions worldwide, particularly in developing countries, such as Peru and Brazil. In this context, taxonomists or research groups must make efforts to consider taxonomic analyzes that help build barcoding libraries of invertebrates and make efforts to construct fruitful collaborations to gain access to genetic identification.

Types of colonized litter reported in these studies are generally diverse, including textiles, bottles, plastic containers and bags, processed wood, fishing gear (e.g., nets), and buoys, among others (e.g., Gracia C. et al., 2018; Mantelatto et al., 2020; Rumbold et al., 2020; De-la-Torre et al., 2021). However, the categorization of litter is often not standardized (Póvoa et al., 2021). For example, Rech et al. (2018a) classify most litter as “hard plastic”, “other plastics”, “foams”, and “non-plastic”, while Mantelatto et al. (2020) propose a more specific classification, including tires, plastic bottles, electric cables, Styrofoam, among others. Other studies report the predominance of only one or two types of colonized litter, mainly buoys and plastic bottles (e.g., Aytan et al., 2019; Cooke and Sumer, 2021), or they do not report it and concentrate on its chemical composition (e.g., Subías-Baratau et al., 2022). The divergence between the classifications used between studies generates complications when integrating the data reported in the literature to determine which substrates are widely preferred by organisms. For this reason, it is necessary to standardize the classification with remarkable specificity. Furthermore, substrate preference may also by influenced by litter type availability. In this sense, litter classification should also include a standard method for litter type (different substrate types) quantification.

The diversity of litter types found can be influenced by experimental design, sources of contamination, and sampling efforts (Rees and Pond, 1995; Velander and Mocogni, 1999). A temporary study carried out in a large coastal area contaminated by a variety of sources is likely to report a greater diversity of colonized litter than a shorter, more focused study. For instance, Carlton et al. (2017) carried out the most extensive study on the occurrence of colonized marine litter on the Pacific coast of the United States. In more than six years, 634 objects and litter from Japan of a great variety (wood, buoys, plastics, metals, ropes, boxes, and electronics) were reported. Secondly, Gracia and Rangel-Buitrago (2020) focused on reporting the occurrence of the invasive bivalve Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) in buoys found on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, while Astudillo et al. (2009) compared the communities found in buoys in use and detached. In both cases, only buoys are reported; however, these areas remain susceptible to the arrival of other types of colonized litter.

The origin of litter colonized by epibionts can be tracked in specific scenarios. For instance, in Italy and Portugal, it has been reported that 64% of the colonized litter originated from aquaculture activities (Rech et al., 2018b). Aquaculture items are easily recognizable while considering that the study by Rech et al. (2018b) was carried out in those areas. However, associating the occurrence of colonized litter with specific anthropic activities may be a rather difficult task on most occasions. For instance, while plastic bottles are generally assumed to originate from land (e.g., incorrectly discarded by beachgoers), studies suggest that a significant number of PET bottles are dumped by ships off shore (Ryan et al., 2019; Ryan, 2020; Ryan et al., 2021), but a definitive number cannot be attributed to either source.

A factor that plays an important role in the colonization process, although it is generally underestimated, is the polymeric composition of the litter (normally plastics). Experimental studies have previously shown that some invertebrate species, such as bryozoans, have a preference for plastics with multiple polymer compositions (Li et al., 2016; Pinochet et al., 2020; Póvoa et al., 2022). A total of 13 different polymers have been identified in the literature, including blends. However, in field studies, there is still great uncertainty regarding the preference of observed organisms for different types of polymers. Only five studies were found that identified the polymeric composition of plastic litter. De-la-Torre et al. (2021) tried to relate the organisms found at the taxonomic class level with the polymers or materials that make up the substrates they inhabit. However, their results are not enough to be conclusive. Similarly, Rech et al. (2021) identified the polymer from the floating plastic debris found. However, the number of litters analyzed was not sufficient to evaluate this factor as a predictor variable. Subías-Baratau et al. (2022) carried out a more exhaustive identification, including a greater number of litters analyzed and reported a greater variety of polymers than previous studies. The three studies agree that the two predominant types of polymers are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). This makes sense since these are the two types of polymers most produced and traded worldwide (PlasticsEurope, 2021). Other polymers found are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which could be attributed to bottles and some textiles, polyamides (PA), which could originate in fishing nets, among others. One possible reason for the low use of polymeric identification techniques is the cost and scope of sophisticated equipment and analysis, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) spectrometry, particularly in developing countries (Silva et al., 2018; Aragaw, 2021). However, more exhaustive monitoring of the polymers that transport marine organisms is necessary at a global level. Secondly, Cooke and Sumer (2021) reported the presence of Lepas pectinata (Spengler, 1793) in the neck of a plastic bottle. The particularity of this finding is that, after a contact angle analysis, the neck of the bottle presented higher hydrophilicity compared to the rest of the bottle. Although more in-depth studies are needed regarding the physicochemical characteristics of the colonized litter, the study by Cooke and Sumer (2021) preliminarily put into perspective the relevance of materials science aspects in this field of research.

The present review focused on the role of marine litter in the transportation of colonized floating marine litter (rafting), which could harbor invasive or potentially invasive species. Other anthropic sources of dispersal may include biofouling boat hulls and ballast water (Costello et al., 2022), as well as natural pathways. Natural dispersal pathways have been demonstrated on several occasions. For instance, non-native cnidarian [e.g., Rhopilema nomadica (Galil, 1990)] and fishes [e.g., Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789), and Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828)] have been found in the Mediterranean Sea as a result of drifting and swimming pathways (Deidun et al., 2011; Coro et al., 2018; Galanidi et al., 2018). Comparing the multiple anthropic and natural dispersal pathways is a complicated task as these may occur simultaneously, although more attention has been given to biofouling and ballast water pathways (García-Gómez et al., 2021). This is likely due to the increase and exacerbation of biological invasions associated with anthropic activities, as well as the capacity of transoceanic dispersal (e.g., international maritime activity) (Encarnação et al., 2021). Attributing specific pathways to already triggered biological invasions is extremely difficult if active monitoring of the various anthropic and natural vectors is lacking. On the other hand, ecological research must support determining if non-native organisms are harmful invasive species for specific ecosystems. Whether a certain dispersal pathway is more or less harmful than others may be debatable. However, constant monitoring is required to understand species dispersal dynamics and elaborate control and conservation programs, including natural pathways.

4 Recommendations

Based on the results of this review and identified limitations, several recommendations are proposed:

  • In many cases, identifying organisms to the lowest taxonomical level by just applying morphological characteristics is insufficient, thus, it is recommended to carry out molecular analyzes of the predominant species that show traits of being an AIS. Considering the difficulty to access techniques, such as DNA barcoding, research groups are encouraged to seek collaborative projects with mutually beneficial objectives.

  • In light of the lack of a standard marine litter classification, the item categorization according to Fleet et al. (2021) is recommended. Additionally, digital approaches are required to facilitate data collection in the field. Further, the item categories indicated by Fleet et al. (2021) should be taken as standardized litter categories master list, while maintaining some flexibility for local-level litter peculiarities. A clear example is the great number of laminated candy wrappers, which are specific to cities like Lima, Peru. On the other hand, specific events that induce unusual and unprecedented sources of marine litter should also be taken into account. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be relevant to include an additional category referring to face masks or personal protective equipment (such as gloves and face shields).

  • The overall number or abundance of marine litter at each sampling site, regardless of their colonization status, should be taken as a reference frame. Thus, fouling litter surveys must report the percentage of fouled items with respect to the total number of litters at each sampling location.

  • Comprehensive studies should include species preference analyses based on the chemical characteristics of a substantial part of all the biofouled items. For instance, in the case of plastics, identifying the polymer type through FTIR or Raman spectroscopy is recommended, as well as the hydrophilicity of the material and surface microstructure.

5 Conclusions

The growing literature on floating marine litter have evidenced its indubitable ability to serve as a substrate for multiple organisms, possibly acting as a vehicle for species dispersal, including AIS. In the present review, an updated literature search was carried out focusing on field research reporting the occurrence of marine macro-biota colonizing or inhabiting marine litter. Results indicate that, from a geographic point of view, there is a lack of information on African and East Asian countries, as well as on the open ocean. Methodologies used to investigate colonized litter in coastal areas lack standardization, thus, making studies difficult to compare. Also, a consensus is needed regarding litter classification and unit expression, as well as combining litter classification with polymer identity. On the other hand, the difficult access to species identification through molecular analyzes and incomplete libraries are important barriers to precisely estimating the contribution of marine litter to AIS dispersal. Based on the main limitations identified in the present review, a list of recommendations was proposed.

Statements

Author contributions

GD-l-T: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing. MA and VR: Conceptualization, Methodology Investigation, Writing – original. AP and TW: Writing – review and editing, Data curation, Validation. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Acknowledgments

The corresponding author is thankful to Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola for financial support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Summary

Keywords

flotsam, colonization, invasive, dispersal, marine litter, rafting

Citation

De-la-Torre GE, Romero Arribasplata MB, Lucas Roman VA, Póvoa AA and Walker TR (2023) Marine litter colonization: Methodological challenges and recommendations. Front. Mar. Sci. 10:1070575. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1070575

Received

15 October 2022

Accepted

25 January 2023

Published

02 February 2023

Volume

10 - 2023

Edited by

Roger C. Prince, Stonybrook Apiary, United States

Reviewed by

Lucia Fanini, University of Salento, Italy; Giuseppe Suaria, National Research Council (CNR), Italy

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre,

This article was submitted to Marine Pollution, a section of the journal Frontiers in Marine Science

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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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