Impacto do lixo plástico marinho no estabelecimento e dispersão de espécies nocivas nos ecossistemas costeiros portugueses

The project introduces a pioneering approach to studying the interactions between plastic debris and marine biota in Portugal’s coastal ecosystems. By blending extensive geographic and temporal analysis with cutting-edge analysis techniques, our research offers unprecedented insights into the distribution and impacts of marine debris, including the identification of nuisance species colonizing plastic litter. We chose 2 different case studies - mainland Portugal and S. Miguel Island - since they may experience different environmental conditions such as ocean currents, water temperatures, and levels of human activity. In addition, islands often have unique ecological dynamics due to their isolation, which can affect the spread and impact of invasive species facilitated by marine plastic litter. We will use a multifaceted approach that incorporates novel concepts and approaches, aiming to tackle important challenges in the field. Our specific objectives are ambitious and go beyond the current state of the art: 1) Plastic litter will be sampled in recreational marinas across Portugal, including locations such as Viana do Castelo, Porto, Aveiro, and S. Miguel (Azores Island), in different seasons along 2 years. This extensive sampling effort will provide a comprehensive understanding of plastic debris distribution in coastal ecosystems. 2) Since one of the major research gaps is to understand the impact of plastic debris composition on the recruitment of different species, including nuisance species, the influence of plastic type on colonization ability will also be assessed by deploying panels composed by different plastic polymers in the recreational marinas, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, fibreglass, among others, and by collecting them after defined periods of time. 3) Employing advanced machine learning tools (i.e., Convolutional Neural Networks) for the detection, quantification, and characterization of aquatic plastic litter introduces a novel, highly efficient methodology to environmental research. By training the model with labelled images of different types of plastic litter, it can learn to recognize and classify them in new images. This approach significantly enhances accuracy and reduces the time required for data analysis compared to traditional methods. 4) The thorough analysis of the biota colonizing the sampled marine litter, utilizing a combination of morphological and DNA-based tools to characterize the diversity of organisms present, including microbes, micro- and macroalgae, and invertebrates, will produce unprecedented data, exceeding what is typically attainable in a 3-year research period. This innovative, interdisciplinary approach enables a comprehensive assessment of ecological impacts, including the identification of novel species interactions and colonization patterns, previously undocumented. 5) Results analysis will address several key questions, including variations in taxonomic groups across seasons and years, the relationship between debris characteristics and biological diversity, and the presence of nuisance species on marine plastic debris. By exploring these questions, we aim to uncover novel insights into the ecological impacts of plastic pollution on coastal ecosystems, seeking to make significant contributions to the scientific community and inform effective management strategies for plastic pollution in coastal environments.