A study on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch revealed that coastal species were present on 70% of the debris analyzed, surprising scientists who believed they could not survive in the middle of the ocean.
The trash pile was also home to a variety of sea life commonly found in the open ocean, and some were even procreating on their plastic homes. This cohabitation raises questions about how coastal and open-ocean sea life interact with each other.
The ability of coastal species to anchor themselves to man-made objects is both fascinating and concerning as it could lead to invasive species traveling to new homes. Scientists were surprised to find that coastal species could survive for extended periods in the middle of the ocean and even create new populations there.
This raises concerns about the potential for invasive species to travel to new homes and highlights the need for better waste management practices.
