1. Defeo, O. et al (2008). Threats to sandy beach ecosystems: a review. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Vol. 81: 1-12.

2. Schlacher, T. & Thompson, L. (2012). Beach recreation impacts benthic invertebrates on ocean-exposed sandy shores. Biological Conservation. Vol. 147: 123-132.

3. Veloso, V.G. et al. (2006). Comparison between the macro infauna of urbanized and protected beaches in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Biological Conservation. Vol. I 27: 510-515.

4. The Ocean Cleanup Website: http://www.theoceancleanup.com/

RECREATIONAL OVERUSE OF

SANDY BEACHES

Sergio Moraes

Chris Jordon

DISSIPATIVE BEACH REFLECTIVE BEACH

Physical structure of beach ecosystems

influences the abundance and composition of

species present. The microscopic environ-

ment located between the sand particles

comprises bacteria, microalgae and various

meiofauna. Dissipative beaches tend to have

greater biodiversity than reflective, harboring

communities of microorganisms such as

phytoplankton and zooplankton as well as

benthic crustaceans and a prime habitat for

shorebirds. Reflective beaches have less

competition for resources and harbor

crustaceans, such as crabs [1].

Google Images

Go

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Google Images

Beach ecosystems are both some of the most resilient and most vulnerable ecosys-

tems exploited for human use. Although able to withstand the strength and variability

of ocean tides and tropical storms, the extremely diverse intertidal zone is prone to

habitat loss and destruction from anthropogenic causes.

HYPOTHESIS

Human overuse of sandy beach ecosystems may negatively influence intertidal habitat

and consequential biodiversity loss

OCEAN CLEAN-UP PROJECT

Boyan Slat (1994): Dutch engineer, and the Founder and CEO (project founded in 2013).

Floating net system that effectively extracts ocean plastics from large ocean gyres and recycles the waste. The current goal is to remove half of the Pacific Garbage Patch in 10 years (both 7900x faster & 330x cheaper than current methods).

The project is currently in model testing, and is projected to deploy their first model Spring 2016 [4].

MANAGEMENT

Zoning and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): areas of natural, untouched beach integrated into a recreational beach area to offset anthropogenic impacts, as well as the introduction of limited beach hours and no-take zones [1].

Further Research and Education: Form long-term monitoring programs and public education on beach use and pollution. Public outreach and education, however, is both cost-efficient and more applicable than either zoning or MPAs.

Urbanized beaches have led to decreased inter-

tidal biodiversity from trampling of fragile burrows

and habitat by beach use and cleaning machinery,

loss of key nutrient cycling brought into the ecosys-

tem through wrack (marine, biotic debris) and

lastly through the heavy concentrations of

pollution leaching into marine waters and washing

ashore on coasts [1] [2].

Plastic debris is the most detrimental, accounting

for over 80% of all marine pollution, as either a

source of harmful ingestion or entrapment of

marine life [3].

Some studies have shown that island beaches

isolated from human activity also contain high

amounts of micro and macro-plastics, and it’s

threatening the local biota [3].

Dissipative

beaches (left)

are typically

fine grained

with a gradual

slope and broad

surf zone.

Reflective

beaches (right)

are courser

grained, with a

steep berm and

a narrow surf

zone [1].

[4]