Macrolitter contamination in beach, dune, and mangrove ecosystems on a Caribbean island : a comparative analysis

Abstract

Litter pollution is a global issue that threatens biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially on vulnerable islands. This study assesses and compares the abundance and composition of macrolitter, including plastic bottles, and identifies its sources across beach, dune, and mangrove ecosystems in Jamaica. The highest macrolitter abundance occurred on the beach (12 items m−2), followed by dune (4.3 items m−2) and mangrove (1.8 items m−2) ecosystems. Plastics dominated (83 %–99 %), with sizes ranging from 2.5 to 25 cm (91 %–99 % of the items), and most had lifetimes shorter than one year (60 %–82 %). Lightweight items easily transported by wind accumulated in the dune, while floating items carried by tides prevailed in beach and mangrove ecosystems, with similar plastic bottle abundances (0.3 items m−2). Result showed that the primary causes of macrolitter contamination in all three ecosystems are poor waste management and recreational activities. Whereas most (54 %–84 %) of the analyzed plastic bottles were produced in Jamaica, there were also bottles made in neighboring countries, such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago, which are not sold locally. These foreign bottles were likely carried by currents from these countries or improperly disposed of by ships.