Plastic Basics
This material is a synthetic polymer made from fossil fuels
What is plastic?
These ecosystems besides oceans are also affected by plastic pollution
What are freshwater systems (lakes and rivers)?
This approach focuses on stopping plastic before it reaches the ocean
What is source reduction (or prevention)?
This term refers to industries that harvest fish and seafood
What are fisheries?
These two things are required for photosynthesis in the ocean
What are sunlight and nutrients?
These are the main raw materials used to make plastic
What are oil and natural gas
This happens when marine animals eat plastic
What is ingestion?
These projects focus on removing plastic already floating in the ocean
What are ocean cleanup projects?
These areas contain most of the world's fisheries
What are coastal regions/continental shelves?
This layer separates warm surface water from cold deep water
What is thermocline?
This process breaks plastic into smaller pieces when exposed to sunlight
What is photo degradation?
This occurs when organisms get trapped in plastic debris
What is entanglement?
This is a major reason cleaning ocean plastic is difficult (think size/distribution)
What is that plastic is widespread and very small?
This percentage of fisheries occurs in the open ocean (very small)
What is about 10% (or a small percentage)?
This process brings nutrient-rich water to the surface
What is upwelling?
These tiny particles form when plastics degrade in the ocean
What are microplastics?
This process causes toxins to increase in concentration up the food chain
What is biomagnification?
This concept refers to responsible care for the environment
What is environmental stewardship?
This zone allows enough light for photosynthesis
What is the photic zone?
These latitudes have low productivity due to lack of nutrients
What are tropical latitudes?
This is the approximate lifespan of plastic in the ocean
What are microplastics?
This group can be affected by eating contaminated seafood
Who are humans?
This idea suggests we are not doomed if action is taken
What is that change is possible (or sustainability/hope through action)?
These organisms form the base of the ocean food web
What are phytoplankton?
These two variables control phytoplankton biomass patterns
What are sunlight and nutrient availability?