The Anthropocene epoch refers to a new period in history where the influence of one species, Homo sapiens, is significantly affecting the planet’s geology, ecosystems, and future. One of the most glaring examples of this impact is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is a collection of plastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG).
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The eastern part of the NPSG is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is estimated to be 1.6 million square kilometers in size and over 50 years old. The patch contains an estimated 45,000-129,000 metric tonnes of plastic, predominantly in the form of microplastics. Heavier, more visible objects that have not yet broken down into smaller particles account for 92% of the plastics in 2018.
Contribution of the Tsunami
The tsunami off the Japanese coast in 2011 contributed significantly to the debris in this garbage patch. Researchers found debris washing ashore on the West coast of North America containing live lifeforms originally found in Japan until at least 2017. Researchers reported that 98% of the debris items had invertebrate organisms. They also found that pelagic species (species of the open ocean) were present on 94.3% of them and coastal species on 70.5%.
The Neopelagic Community
The introduction of a vast sea of relatively permanent anthropogenic rafts since the 1950s has given rise to a new kind of standing coastal community in the open ocean. Researchers have named it the neopelagic community. While coastal species have been found on human-made objects in the open ocean before, they were always considered to have been “misplaced” from their intended habitats. The neopelagic community, on the other hand, lives on plastic items in the garbage patch, including reproducing there.
Bonding of Plastics with Nature
Polyethylene films have chemically bonded with rocks in China, creating anthropoquinas of Brazil (sedimentary rocks embedded with plastic earrings), and the “plastiglomerates” of Hawai’i (beach sediment + organic debris + basaltic lava + melted plastic). These discoveries indicate that plastics are bonding with nature, and the effects of this bond are not fully understood.
Why In News
The Anthropocene epoch refers to a proposed new period in history characterized by the significant influence of one species, Homo sapiens, on the planet’s geology, ecosystems, and overall destiny, as suggested by some scientists.
MCQs about Plastic Pollution and its Impact on the Anthropocene Epoch
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What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
A. A collection of plastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre
B. A new type of marine species discovered in the Pacific Ocean
C. An island made entirely of plastic waste
D. A garbage dump on the West coast of North America
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What is the neopelagic community?
A. A new type of standing coastal community in the open ocean
B. A community of marine species found in the Pacific Ocean
C. A community of coastal species misplaced in the open ocean
D. A community of deep-sea creatures
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What is the contribution of the tsunami off the Japanese coast in 2011 to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
A. It added to the debris in the garbage patch
B. It reduced the amount of plastic debris in the garbage patch
C. It had no impact on the garbage patch
D. It caused the formation of the garbage patch
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Which type of species were found to be more common on small floating islands of garbage in the Pacific Ocean?
A. Coastal species
B. Pelagic species
C. Deep-sea creatures
D. Northwest Pacific species
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