As part of an ongoing study on Subantarctic Marion Island, we report on beach litter accunmulation for the year May 1998 - April 1999. The amount of debris found in both annual and monthly accumulation studies, showed a substantial decrease from the peak experience during 1997/98 season, but is still double that recorded during 1984. This recent decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the number and proportion of styrofoam items. Plastic items were most numerous this season, while styrofoam dominated for the previous two years. Items originating from South America (Argentina in particular) were the most prevalent, followed by items with oriental script. Monthly accumulation studies showed a strong seasonal effect with most items arriving during the winter. Litter retention studies showed that most (60%) items collected during the annual survey were less than two months old. This strong seasonal effect and high turnover rate, highlights the dangers of single annual surveys.
There is no abstract available for this document.
There is no abstract available for this document.
Abstract:
En contribuci6n al esfuerzo en la conservacion del oceano austral, a traves del sistema del Tratado Antártico en general y por CCRVMA en particular, Uruguay viene realizando programas de monitoreo del material de desecho que llega a la costa adyacente a la Base Cientifica Antártica Artigas e incluyendo en esta temporada la zona de costa del Pasaje Drake ( at norte de la lsla Rey Jorge 125 de Mayo) y la costa proxima a la Estaci6n Cientifica Ruperto Echeribehety (E.C.A.R.E) (Bahia Esperanza, Peninsula antartica). Durante la estaci6n 1998/99 de verano antar'tico se realiz6 un trabajo de relevamiento, clasificacion, conteo y en 10 posible se investigaron las marcas de fabricaci6n y otras caracteristicas que ayudaran a la identificacion del origen de 10s desecho8 marinos que alcanzan el area costera: 1) que comprende la zona del swash en la bajamar hasta unos 100 metros hacia el norte, desde la margen del glaciar Collins al SW de la Base Cientifica Antartica Artigas hasta las regiones elevadas de la zona costera a1 SE de la misma; 2) la zona de costa del Pasaje Drake, en un area comprendida entre el tnargen del glaciar Collins y Punta Nedel en la Peninsula Fildes (costa norte de la Isla Rey J orge / 25 de Mayo) 3) la costa adyacente al E.C.A.R.E.
