Juliana A. Ivar do Sul, Monica F. Costa, Jacqueline S. Silva-Cavalcanti, 
Maria Christina B. Araújo, Plastic debris retention and exportation by a 
mangrove forest patch, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 7 
December 2013, ISSN 0025-326X, 
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.011.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13007121)
Abstract: An experiment observed the behavior of selected tagged plastic 
items deliberately released in different habitats of a tropical mangrove 
forest in NE Brazil in late rainy (September) and late dry (March) 
seasons. Significant differences were not reported among seasons. 
However, marine debris retention varied among habitats, according to 
characteristics such as hydrodynamic (i.e., flow rates and volume 
transported) and relative vegetation (Rhizophora mangle) height and 
density. The highest grounds retained significantly more items when 
compared to the borders of the river and the tidal creek. Among the used 
tagged items, PET bottles were more observed and margarine tubs were 
less observed, being easily transported to adjacent habitats. Plastic 
bags were the items most retained near the releasing site. The balance 
between items retained and items lost was positive, demonstrating that 
mangrove forests tend to retain plastic marine debris for long periods 
(months-years).
Keywords: Mangrove forests; Coastal ecosystems; Environmental 
conservation; Marine debris; Fishers communities

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