macro-plastic litter, a new vector for boreal species dispersal on svalbard

The 100 km long west coast of prins karl forlandet (westernmost island of svalbard archipelago) was assessed for the density of macro-plastic litter. the most numerous were fragments of fishing gear (buoys, ropes, nets) followed by various containers, sheets of foil and plastic textiles. the total density was estimated at 14 400 items with a total weight of 18 tonnes of plastic debris on the inspected coastline. the largest objects (fishing boxes, containers) were colonised by barnacles (semibalanus sp.), gooseneck barnacles (lepas sp.), blue shells (mytilus sp.), bryozoans and marine macro-algae. the rafting of groups of adult organisms favours their better biological dispersal compared to larval transport, and is regarded here as the main reason for reappearance of genus mytilus on svalbard. © 2018 walter de gruyter gmbh. all rights reserved.