Emerging Ecological and Evolutionary Implications of Marine Plastics

Surface ocean plastic concentration has increased significantly in recent decades. Buoyant plastic debris (BPD) influences sea-surface pelagic communities by interfering with their life cycles. These plastics host diverse organisms, inducing behavioural and physiological changes that disrupt community structure. These include particular concerns on bio-indicators and keystone species, impairing traits like natural buoyancy and bio-physical coupling. Buoyancy is a vital adaptive trait for floating marine species, involving mechanisms like gas chambers, hydrodynamic shapes, and low-density fluids. There is a possibility that the buoyancy mechanism of floating organisms can dwindle with time due to the increased reliance on BPD.  Such disruptions could trigger novel environmental challenges. Addressing BPD-organism interactions through targeted interventions is critical to reduce the broader ecological, social, and economic impacts of marine plastic pollution.

Reference: VishnuRadhan, R., Das, S., Raj, S., et al. (2025). On the interaction of buoyant plastic debris and sea-surface layer organisms. Anthropocene Coasts, 8(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44218-025-00075-z