Effects of natural and anthropogenic storm-stranded debris in upper-beach arthropods: Is wrack a prey hotspot for birds?

Improving beach natural debris management for biodiversity conservation

Natural debris deposited by the sea is essential for the functioning of the beach ecosystem. As tourist demands on the coast grow, aesthetic values become more important, and the indiscriminate cleaning of debris spreads from urban to natural beaches. A change in beach debris management is needed to ensure that organic debris plays its role where the sea has deposited it.

Recognizing microplastic deposits on sandy beaches by altimetric positioning, μ-Raman spectroscopy and multivariate statistical models

Understanding the extent and implications of microplastic (MP) pollution along the São Paulo State coastline in southeastern Brazil is crucial, considering the significant environmental burden imposed by industrial and port activities in this region. This research aims to understand the complex dynamics of MP deposition on sandy beaches, which poses severe environmental risks to coastal ecosystems, marine organisms, and humans. Using a comprehensive five-step methodology-geodetic surveys, sediment collection, μ-RAMAN spectrometry for polymer identification, and multivariate statistical models-we analyzed the distribution of MPs across six coastal compartments (C1 to C6). The results (128 samples from 34 profiles) revealed relatively high MP concentrations in C3 and C2, which were likely influenced by local human activities. Various shape types of MPs, such as pellets, fragments, and fibers, present distinct distribution patterns based on their physical properties and emission sources. Fragments and foam were the most prevalent, accounting for 42 % and 35 %, respectively, of the 1026 MP items identified in total. Statistical analyses revealed significant correlations between MP types and beach morphometric features, with higher elevations correlating with increased MP concentrations, particularly for pellets and foam. Beaches with intermediate slopes (0.05 < tanβ <0.12) and openings to the southern quadrant tended to accumulate more MPs. This research underscores the importance of tailored management strategies that consider the unique characteristics of each coastal region to mitigate the impacts of MP pollution. The findings contribute to the development of targeted monitoring and environmental remediation strategies, which are crucial for protecting marine life and maintaining the integrity of coastal environments.

Impact of beach wrack on microorganisms associated with faecal pollution at the Baltic Sea Sandy beaches

We investigated whether higher quantities of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are in the areas with red algae-dominated wrack compared to areas without it and if the birds are the primary source of faecal pollution on sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea. Water, sand and wrack samples were collected during the recreational season, and abundances of FIB, HF183 (human faecal pollution) and GFD (bird faecal pollution) markers, as well as the presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter, were assessed. Significantly higher levels of Enterococcus spp. were found in the wrack accumulation areas in water and sand than in the areas without wrack when there was a faecal pollution event, which could be explained by entrapment and changed physico-chemical water conditions. Both faecal pollution markers were identified, however, with no apparent pattern. Campylobacter bacteria were identified in the wrack-affected water, sand, and beach wrack. While this research provides valuable insights into beach wrack serving as a reservoir for FIB, further investigations, including multi-day samplings, are necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the long-term dynamics of microbiota within red algae-dominated wrack.