A Life On the Plastic Wave?

The 2011 tsunami in Japan, enableed 300 Asian coastal marine species (anemones, brittle stars, shrimps, barnales etc) to 'surf' their way on floating plastic detritus to the shores of North America. Scientists are now recognising what they call 'neopelagic communities'. These are animals, once thought to be limited to the seashore, thriving on the accumulations of plastics floating in our oceans (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/09/coastal-species-are-forming-colonies-on-plastic-trash-in-the-ocean-study-finds). Floating plastics could be regarded as a 'newish' opportunity for species that were formerly restricted to the intertidal zone. Fairly obviously, however, the development of neoplastic communities greatly increases the probability of invasive species reaching pristine locations and devastating existing communities. Some marine specialists also point out that the plastics-riding assemblages of animals constitute 'ecological traps'. Animals (such as turtles and juvenile whales) are attracted by their food potential. They can ingest plastics or even be killed, after becoming entangled in the material.