Currie Jens J, Stack Stephanie H, McCordic Jessica A, Kaufman Gregory D
Pacific Whale Foundation, 300 Ma'alaea Road, Suite 211, Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793, USA.
Pacific Whale Foundation, 300 Ma'alaea Road, Suite 211, Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793, USA.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2017 Aug 15;121(1-2):69-77. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.031. Epub 2017 May 25.
Marine debris poses considerable threat to biodiversity and ecosystems and has been identified as a stressor for a variety of marine life. Here we present results from the first study quantifying the amount and type of debris accumulation in Maui leeward waters and relate this to cetacean distribution to identify areas where marine debris may present a higher threat. Transect surveys were conducted within the 4-island region of Maui, Hawai'i from April 1, 2013 to April 15, 2016. Debris was found in all areas of the study region with higher concentrations observed where the Au'au, Kealaikahiki, and Alalakeiki channels converge. The degree of overlap between debris and cetaceans varied among species but was largest for humpback whales, which account for the largest portion of reported entanglements in the 4-island region of Maui. Identifying areas of high debris-cetacean density overlap can facilitate species management and debris removal efforts.
海洋垃圾对生物多样性和生态系统构成了相当大的威胁，并已被确定为多种海洋生物的压力源。在此，我们展示了第一项研究的结果，该研究量化了毛伊岛背风海域垃圾积累的数量和类型，并将其与鲸类动物的分布相关联，以确定海洋垃圾可能构成更高威胁的区域。2013年4月1日至2016年4月15日，在夏威夷毛伊岛的四岛区域内进行了断面调查。在研究区域的所有区域都发现了垃圾，在奥奥、凯莱凯希基和阿拉拉凯基海峡交汇处观察到更高的浓度。垃圾与鲸类动物之间的重叠程度因物种而异，但对于座头鲸来说最大，座头鲸在毛伊岛四岛区域报告的缠结中占比最大。确定垃圾 - 鲸类动物高密度重叠区域有助于物种管理和垃圾清理工作。
