review · Marine Pollution Bulletin
Marine invasive species present serious risks to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and economic activities. While established dispersal pathways include shipping, waterways, and aquaculture, floating marine litter provides an additional artificial substrate that enables non-native organisms to disperse across ocean environments. A review of studies examining this mechanism identified 67 alien species associated with marine debris. The most recurrent phyla documented were Arthropoda at 29 per cent, Mollusca at 23 per cent, and Bryozoa at 19 per cent, with Annelida and Cnidaria also present. Because of characteristics such as buoyancy and environmental persistence, plastic debris transports alien species more efficiently than natural floating materials. Consequently, plastics can serve as primary vectors that carry non-native organisms into remote regions, while also facilitating secondary spread between established invasion sites.
Millions of tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually, turning durable waste into long-distance rafts for non-native marine life. Understanding how debris transports alien species is vital because biological invasions can permanently degrade marine ecosystems, damage fisheries, and disrupt coastal economies. Tracking the types of organisms that colonise marine litter provides critical data for conservation planners and biosecurity authorities.
This work represents early-stage baseline research that maps ecological risks rather than providing a commercial tool. The insights could eventually inform risk-assessment models for maritime biosecurity authorities, port operators, and environmental monitoring agencies. However, the abstract does not indicate a direct commercial application pathway, highlighting instead that substantial research is still needed before operational mitigation solutions can be developed.
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The introduction and transport of marine invasive species into new environments are a great threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services with potential economic repercussions. There are several routes and mechanisms by which alien species are transported and dispersed in the marine environment (shipping, waterways, and aquaculture). Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean. The presence of floating marine litter in marine environments provides a substrate for marine organisms and may increase the potential for the transport of alien species. Research on the role of marine litter in the introduction of alien marine species has grown exponentially in recent years. In this study, studies examining the transport and dispersal of alien species by marine litter are reviewed. In this review, we identified 67 alien species associated with marine litter. The most recurrent alien phyla found on marine litter are Arthropoda (29 %), Mollusca (23 %), Bryozoa (19 %), Annelida (7 %) and Cnidaria (5 %). Plastic appears to be more efficient in transporting alien species than by natural means. Their characteristics (buoyancy and persistence) allow them to be widely dispersed throughout all ocean compartments. Thus, plastics may act as a primary vector, carrying organisms to remote areas but can also facilitate the secondary spread of alien species between points of invasion. Despite the growing number of studies on this subject, much work remains to be done to understand the roles of plastics in the introduction of alien species and to develop solutions to mitigate the issue. • The role of marine litter in the biological invasion is poorly studied. • A total of 67 alien species were identified associated with marine litter. • Plastic litter are an important vectors for the spread of alien species. • The most alien phyla found on marine litter are Arthropoda, Mollusca and Bryozoa • Plastics can act as a primary vector, but also facilitate the secondary spread of alien species.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114913
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