http:\/\/news.ufl.edu\/articles\/2016\/02\/plastic-debris-crossing-the-pacific-can-transport-more-species-with-the-help-of-barnacles.php<\/p>\n
Plastic debris crossing the Pacific can transport more species with the
\nhelp of barnacles<\/p>\n
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
\nMICHELLE NEELEY
\nPHOTOGRAPHER: MARINA GARLAND<\/p>\n
The smooth surfaces of much of the plastic waste rapidly increasing in
\nthe ocean appear to provide poor habitat for animals — that is, until
\nbarnacles step in.<\/p>\n
University of Florida researchers discovered that diverse communities of
\nrafting animals can inhabit even the smoothest pieces of plastic debris
\nif barnacles step in first to create complex habitat, similar to trees
\nin a rainforest or corals in a reef. That means plastics could better
\ntransport foreign species across oceans than previously believed, said
\nMike Gil, who, as a doctoral candidate at UF, led the study published
\nJan. 27 in Scientific Reports.<\/p>\n
Now the bad news: While conservationists generally aim to preserve
\nbiological diversity, Gil said, the diversity found on plastic debris
\ncould be harmful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/news.ufl.edu\/articles\/2016\/02\/plastic-debris-crossing-the-pacific-can-transport-more-species-with-the-help-of-barnacles.php Plastic debris crossing the Pacific can transport more species with the help of barnacles FEBRUARY 3, 2016 MICHELLE NEELEY PHOTOGRAPHER: MARINA GARLAND The smooth surfaces of much of the plastic waste rapidly increasing in the ocean appear to provide poor habitat for animals — that is, until barnacles step in. University of Florida researchers discovered that diverse communities of rafting animals can inhabit even the smoothest pieces of plastic debris if barnacles step in first to create complex habitat, similar to trees in a rainforest or corals in a reef. That means plastics could better transport foreign species across oceans than previously believed, said Mike Gil, who, as a doctoral candidate at UF, led the study published Jan. 27 in Scientific Reports. Now the bad news: While conservationists generally aim to preserve biological diversity, Gil said, the diversity found on plastic debris could be harmful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3484,3492,3488,3444],"tags":[2438],"yoast_head":"\n