We all know that today, plastic pollution has become one of the biggest menaces for the environment as well as mankind. However, what many still don’t know is that every year, a staggering 12 million tonnes of plastics find their way into the oceans. Of this, 9.5 million tonnes originate from land, while 1.75 million tonnes is the plastic discharge from the fishing and shipping industries.
The result? Around 51 trillion microscopic plastic particles, weighing a combined 2,69,000 tons, end up floating in the seas. It is high time the issue is addressed openly and collaborative steps are taken on a mass scale. Through this blog post, we at Tribhuvan College of Environment & Development Sciences, one of the most well-known environmental science colleges in Delhi, are attempting to highlight the dangers that microplastics are posing specifically for marine ecosystems. We will also discuss the various ways we can still tackle plastic pollution to protect marine life and restore ocean health.
What Dangers Do Microplastics Pose on Marine Ecosystems?
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Digestive Ailments and Death:
When marine animals ingest microplastics, the consequences end up becoming extremely severe. Let’s take the example of sea turtles. These creatures often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, leading to dangerous blockages in their digestive systems. This leads them to suffer from intense pain, starvation, and, in some cases, even death.
Similarly, seabirds consume microplastics, mistaking them for food, which fills their stomachs and leaves no room for actual nourishment. As a result, these birds often suffer from malnutrition or die from starvation.
We at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Development Sciences feel that damage to this extent highlights the urgent need to address microplastic pollution and protect marine life.
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Reproductive Issues:
When marine animals ingest microplastics, the consequences are likely to show up in the form of reproduction issues. For instance, studies have shown that female fish exposed to microplastics end up experiencing problems like reduced fertility, which leads to fewer eggs and lower hatching rates. This is a pressing issue because it ends up disrupting the overall fish populations.
Similarly, marine species like sea urchins have shown developmental issues in their offspring after ingesting microplastics, resulting in deformed or unhealthy offsprings.
Here, we at Tribhuvan College of Environment & Development Sciences would like to draw your attention to the fact that the aforementioned reproductive problems don’t just threaten individual species but impact the entire marine ecosystem! This further stresses the need for urgent action to tackle plastic pollution and safeguard marine life.
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Habitat Contamination:
Microplastics pose a significant threat to vital marine habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. These tiny particles find base on reefs and seagrass, affecting these essential ecosystems and blocking sunlight, which is crucial for the process called photosynthesis. This contamination leads to reduced coral growth and resilience, making reefs more vulnerable to disease and bleaching.
Seagrass beds, which provide crucial habitat and food for marine life, also suffer from similar issues, affecting their ability to support diverse marine species. On that note, we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment & Development Sciences would like to quote marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, who says, “We need to respect and protect the oceans, as they are the heart of our planet’s health.” Do you agree?
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Food Web Disruption:
Microplastics are a big problem for marine life because they don’t remain in one place. They move up the food chain. When tiny creatures like plankton eat microplastics, they don’t get the nutrients they need, leading them to feel weak, which then passes on to larger animals like fish, who eat them.
Over time, this weakens the entire food web, causing big predators to struggle, eventually affecting species that we humans rely on for food as well. Amidst all this, the balance of the whole ecosystem gets thrown off, with the effects rippling out in ways we humans might not even fully understand yet.
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Long-term Environmental Impact:
Microplastics are largely durable, breaking down very slowly, if at all, in the marine environment. This means they can linger in oceans, rivers, and other waterways for hundreds of years. As they accumulate, their harmful effects build up, continuously impacting marine life and ecosystems.
Over time, the concentration of microplastics grows, affecting more species and creating a persistent, long-term threat. Unlike some pollutants that eventually break down or dissipate, microplastics remain a constant presence, making the damage they cause to marine ecosystems cumulative and increasingly severe as the years go by. This is why we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment & Developmental Sciences emphasize combatting microplastics-driven marine pollution.
Summing Up:
We at the Tribhuvan College of Environment & Developmental Sciences, one of the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi, believe that combatting the dangers of microplastics in marine ecosystems requires urgent and coordinated global action. Reducing plastic production, improving waste management, and promoting sustainable alternatives are some of the key steps that every individual must take responsibility for.
Public awareness and education on the impacts of microplastics also help in driving changes in consumer behavior. Additionally, enhancing regulations and encouraging innovation in biodegradable materials can help mitigate their presence. All in all, the need is for all of us to come together to eradicate microplastics from this planet.