Fouling organisms in marine litter (rafting on abiogenic substrates): A global review of literature

One of the underestimated consequences of marine litter presence on marine environment is the transportation of fouling species on detritus ? a process known as rafting. We undertook a review of articles concerning rafting published between 1970 and 2020 to identify patterns and potential areas of study that could contribute to directing future research. We observed in 53 publications an increase in rafting studies from the 1990s but fewer studies have been undertaken in the Southern Atlantic. The main fouling organisms were algae, barnacles, bryozoans, mollusks and polychaetes. The transport of those organisms over time and distances, and the volumes of material transported, have been very irregular, reflecting oceanic movements and detritus generating events acting at local, regional, or trans-oceanic scales. No standardized methodologies for collecting marine litter and identifying and quantifying their fouling were observed, but are suggested in this review, to allow more accurate future comparisons among different studies.

Automated summary

Research shows that marine litter can have underestimated consequences on the marine environment through rafting, with a lack of studies on rafting in the Southern Atlantic. The main fouling organisms transported on detritus include algae, barnacles, bryozoans, mollusks, and polychaetes. Standardized methods for collecting marine litter and identifying pollutants are recommended for more accurate comparisons in future studies.