The amount of plastic trash in the Pacific Garbage Patch has increased by a factor of 100 during the last 40 years, according to scientists from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego. That’s causing profound changes to the marine ecosystem.

From The Guardian: 

The Seaplex team found that water skaters typically lay their eggs on floating objects like seashells, bird feathers and pumice, but the change to plastic could have “ecosystem-wide consequences”. The insects are an important link on the marine food chain, plus predators like crabs rely on their eggs as a source of food.

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