Investigating Marine Debris By Sandy Webb, Inspired by the 2005 NWHI Educators Voyage
Mahalo for the photo images! Jim Watt David Littschwager and Susan Middleton The many photographers who posted their work on the internet-images found through the Google search engine
What killed this young albatross?
Many researchers have found that… Seabirds all over the world eat plastic that floats on the sea Researchers believe the birds confuse the plastic with their normal prey Plastic is passed from parent to chick as parents regurgitate what they eat to their young
Where’s this beach?
What’s their “catch”?
Where was this marine debris collected?
Where is this beach?
The last 3 photos were taken in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands! Kure Island is over 1000 miles from Kauai!
Even in the most remote places on earth… Marine debris piles up The Northwest Hawaiian Islands are part of the most isolated island chain in the world but… Ocean currents can carry debris for thousands of miles and… Plastic debris can last for decades!
The next three slides will provide clues! Where do you think the marine debris that hits the Northwest Hawaiian Islands comes from? The next three slides will provide clues!
What is Marine Debris? PREVENTABLE!!! Floating garbage in the sea Litter on the beach Man-made rubbish that did not get put in a trash can! PREVENTABLE!!!
Make some hypotheses! What types of marine debris most dangerous to sea life? What are the top 5 most common types of marine debris?
How would you find the answers? How would you test your hypotheses? Brainstorm methods for collecting marine debris data
One method for collecting data is to take photos
Entangling Debris
Scientists organize their data in tables Another method is to keep track of all the animals found entangled in marine debris Scientists organize their data in tables
The volunteers fill out data sheets while they are collecting rubbish Some organizations keep track of the types of marine debris collected by volunteers The volunteers fill out data sheets while they are collecting rubbish
Most Common on Beaches
The Dirty Dozen
Another method is to collect data on marine debris found in a certain area Check out how much rubbish was collected in the remote Northwest Hawaiian Islands!
Over 300,000 kilograms – that’s more than 360 tons!!
A new method to study marine debris - from the air - is being developed by NOAA A special airplane is used It’s packed with sensors: temperature, radar, a variety of imagers, etc. The data is being used to predict where marine debris will accumulate Clean up efforts can occur before the debris hits the shore!
Work with your classmates and teacher to develop a procedure – now! How would you investigate the effect of plastic marine debris on birds in a remote location? Work with your classmates and teacher to develop a procedure – now!
One study, by Blight and Burger in 1997, used this procedure: They examined seabirds caught and killed in drift nets found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean They performed their study for two months and… Examined the stomach contents of the dead birds
What do you think Blight and Burger discovered? Make a prediction- now!
Here’s some of their data- what can you conclude from it?
If you found out something this important, what would you do with your results? Hopefully you would share them!! First, they have to be summarized in writing- clearly and thoroughly Next, they are submitted to scholarly journals for scientific peer review Research is used by those that try to protect habitats and the species found in them
So what can YOU do about marine debris? Design a marine debris investigation of your own and share your results! Put your rubbish in trash cans! Recycle! Join the thousands of volunteers that clean up beaches and off shore waters every year!
Volunteers clean up marine debris on Oahu every year!
What can you do in your “backyard”?