Anthropogenic debris on beaches in the SE Pacific (Chile): Results from a national survey supported by volunteers |
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| Authors: | Macarena Bravo Mª de los ngeles Gallardo Guillermo Luna-Jorquera Paloma Núez Nelson Vsquez Martin Thiel |
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| Institution: | aUniversidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile;bCentro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile |
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| Abstract: | Anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) is an ubiquitous problem, which has motivated public participation in activities such as beach surveys and clean-up campaigns. While it is known that beaches in the SE Pacific are also affected by this problem, the quantities and types of AMD remain largely unknown. In the context of an outreach project, volunteers ( 1500 high-school students) participated in a nation-wide survey of AMD on 43 beaches distributed randomly along the entire Chilean coast (18°S to 53°S). The mean density of AMD was 1.8 items m−2 and the major types were plastics, cigarette butts and glass. Densities in central Chile were lower than in northern and southern Chile, which could be due to different attitudes of beach users or to intense beach cleaning in central regions. We suggest that public participation in surveys and cleaning activities will raise awareness and thereby contribute to an improvement of the situation. |
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| Keywords: | Beach litter Anthropogenic marine debris Beach survey Volunteer participation Environmental education Plastics |
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