Dear colleagues,

giving the concern on the impact of marine debris on cetacean populations, we are pleased to share also with the scientific community working on cetaceans the following paper now available online:

Arcangeli A., Campana I., Angeletti D., Atzori F., Azzolin M., Carosso L., Di Miccoli V., Giacoletti A., Gregorietti M., Luperini C., Paraboschi M., Pellegrino G., Ramazio M., Sarà G., Crosti R., 2018. Amount, composition, and spatial distribution of floating macro litter along fixed trans-border transects in the Mediterranean basin. Marine Pollution Bulletin 129 (2), 545-554.

Abstract- Marine litter is a major source of pollution in the Mediterranean basin, but despite legislative requirements, scant information is available for the ongoing assessment of this threat. Using higher size classes as proxy for litter distribution, this study gave a synoptic estimation of the amount, composition, and distribution of floating macro-litter in the Mediterranean. The average amount of macro-litter was in a range of 2–5 items/km2, with the highest in the Adriatic basin. Seasonal patterns were present in almost all study areas and were significant in the Ligurian Sea, Sardinian-Balearic basin, and Central Tyrrhenian Sea. Plastic accounted for > 80% of litter in all areas and seasons, with the highest proportion in the Adriatic Sea, Ligurian Sea, and Sicilian-Sardinian Channels; in the Bonifacio Strait, Tyrrhenian Sea, and Sardinian-Balearic basin, litter composition was instead more diverse. Spatial analysis suggested an almost homogeneous distribution of litter without evident regular aggregation zones.

The paper can be found in open access for 50 days here:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1WyM2,ashmKd7

Hoping that this little piece can help improving our knowledge for the conservation of cetaceans and the marine ecosystem.

Sincerely,

antonella

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Antonella Arcangeli PhD

ISPRA BIO Dep. - Environmental conservation and monitoring

Via Brancati 60 00144 Rome Italy

antonella.arcangeli@isprambiente.it

ph. +39.06.50074470

mob. +39.349.3272200

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