High concentrations of floating neustonic life in the plastic-rich North Pacific Garbage Patch

Floating life (obligate neuston) is a core component of the ocean surface food web. However, only 1 region of high neustonic abundance is known so far, the Sargasso Sea in the Subtropical North Atlantic gyre, where floating life provides critical habitat structure and ecosystem services. Here, we hypothesize that floating life is also concentrated in other gyres with converging surface currents. To test this hypothesis, we collected samples through the eastern North Pacific Subtropical Gyre in the area of the North Pacific Garbage Patch (NPGP) known to accumulate floating anthropogenic debris. We found that densities of floating life were higher inside the central NPGP than on its periphery and that there was a positive relationship between neuston abundance and plastic abundance for 3 out of 5 neuston taxa, Velella, Porpita, and Janthina. This work has implications for the ecology of subtropical oceanic gyre ecosystems.

Automated summary

Floating life is a key part of the ocean surface food web, and it is predominantly found in the Sargasso Sea. This study tested the hypothesis that floating life is also concentrated in other gyres with converging surface currents by collecting samples from the North Pacific Garbage Patch. The researchers found higher densities of floating life within the central area of the garbage patch, and a positive relationship between neuston abundance and plastic abundance for certain taxa. This has implications for understanding the ecology of subtropical oceanic gyre ecosystems.