Trash Dance: Anthropogenic Litter and Organic Matter Co-Accumulate on Urban Beaches

Anthropogenic litter (i.e., trash, AL) on beaches has negative ecological and economic impacts. Beach AL is likely moved together with coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM, algae, leaves), but no previous studies have assessed AL and CPOM co-distribution. We measured AL and CPOM on four urban beaches in Chicago, Illinois, USA, along two transect types (pier-adjacent, non-pier adjacent) in which each has three habitats (upland, beach, strand line). As expected, AL and CPOM density were positively related across all transects. AL and CPOM were significantly higher adjacent to piers, and variable among habitats. Wood, leaves, and smoking-related AL were most abundant in beach and upland zones while glass and algal detritus were abundant at the strandline. Overall, AL and CPOM show ‘patchy’ distribution attributed to wind and wave movement toward accumulation sites. Beach CPOM is a hot spot of biological activity (e.g., microbes, invertebrates, birds). Therefore, mixing of AL and CPOM suggests organisms may be more likely to encounter AL in mixed accumulations. Efforts to reduce the abundance and biological impacts of beach AL will benefit from emphasizing organic matter accumulation sites.

The Lichen Flora of Coastal Saline Lagoons in England

The lichen flora associated with twenty saline lagoons in England is described. Though often scarce, lichens were present on shingle, miscellaneous stones, half-submerged concrete structures, retaining walls, salt marsh vegetation, wooden posts, and strand-line materials. Sites that had been modified by the activity of man often held richer assemblages than ones in a more natural condition. The lichen flora is a mixture of common-place species and maritime specialists. The large lagoon behind Chesil Beach, known as ‘The Fleet’, was the most important site surveyed. Many of the marine lichens present are typical of very sheltered coastlines. Caloplaca suaedae, found at two sites, is described as new to science.

Estimates of the Position of Sea Level between 140,000 and 75,000 Years ago

The absolute elevations of sea level 103,000 and 82,000 years ago have been estimated as −15 and −13 m, respectively, from the present elevations of emergent reefs on Barbados (Broecker et al., 1968; Matthews, 1973; Bloom et al., 1974). The “Barbados model” requires two assumptions: (1) that sea level was +6 m 124,000 years ago, and (2) that rates of uplift on short individual traverses have been uniform during the last 125,000 years.A test of the derived values on Barbados itself does not yield uniform rates of uplift between 124,000 and 82,000 years ago. Less reliably dated strand line features on less uplifted coasts suggest that sea level 124,000 years ago differed from sea levels 103,000 and 82,000 years ago by smaller amounts than those suggested by the “Barbados model.” Such smaller differences yield more uniform rates of uplift between 124,000 and 82,000 years ago, on New Guinea as well as on Barbados, than do the larger. The “Barbados model” is not sufficiently precise to yield close estimates of past elevations of sea level. Better values will eventually be derived from low uplift coasts, when stratigraphic and radiometric data from them have achieved the credibility of data from moderate to high uplift coasts.