Sonja Ehlers

Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research | AWI · Department of Shelf Seas Systems Ecology

Plastic pollution in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean has been recorded in scientific literature since the 1980s; however, the presence of microplastic particles (<5 mm) is less understood. Here, we aimed to determine whether microplastic accumulation would vary among Antarctic and Southern Ocean regions through studying 30 deep-sea sediment cores...

Plasticrusts are a novel form of plastic debris which has only recently been discovered in Madeira Island, NE Atlantic Ocean. Plasticrusts consist of plastic encrusting wave-exposed rocky intertidal habitats and are presumably generated by waves smashing plastic debris against intertidal rocks. However, direct observations of this process are lacki...

Microplastics (<5 mm) are emerging pollutants in oceans worldwide. As such small particles are easily ingested, microplastics are found in numerous pelagic and benthic organisms. However, information on microplastics in rocky intertidal organisms and habitats is relatively scant. Therefore, we examined snails and water from wave-sheltered and wave-...

Plastics embedded in tar residues encrusting rocky coastlines were discovered on the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic Ocean) and termed “plastitar” in 2022. As plastic and tar pollution is widespread in marine pelagic and benthic habitats, it was predicted that this novel plastic form could occur on other coasts as well. To test this prediction, we revi...

Plastitar has recently been reported in marine environments worldwide. Plastitar is plastic embedded in crude oil residues. This plastic form, i.e., geochemically or -physically altered plastic, has been proposed to derive from water motion driven plastic-crude oil-interactions in pelagic and benthic habitats. In this study, we introduce bitumen-ba...

Abstract: ”Plasticrusts” consist of plastic encrusting intertidal rocks and have been reported locally on Madeira island (Atlantic Ocean), on Giglio island (Mediterranean Sea) and in Peru (Pacific Ocean). Therefore, plasticrusts constitute an emerging ”plastic form” (geochemically or -physically altered plastic) and pollutant. However, information...

Plastics embedded in crude oil residues encrusting rocky shorelines have been described as ”plastitar” on the Canary Islands, NE Atlantic Ocean in 2022. Here, we review plastitar records reported by ten studies in the marine pollution literature (under various descriptions and terms including ”tar-bonded beach-conglomerate tarcrete”, ”plasto-tar cr...

”Plastic forms”, such as plastiglomerates, pyroplastics, plasticrusts, anthropoquinas and plastitars, occur on coasts worldwide. These plastic forms derive from geochemical or -physical interactions including heat-induced plastic fusion with rocks, incomplete plastic combustion, plastic abrasion on rocks, plastic inclusion in sediment deposits and...

”Pyroplastics” and ”plastiglomerates” are ”plastic forms” (geochemically or -physically altered plastics) which have been found in marine coastal habitats worldwide. Both plastic forms derive from incomplete plastic combustion. While pyroplastics are burned plastics with a rock-like appearance, plastiglomerates are melted plastics fused with rocks...

On 24 June 2024, we detected foil that tightly adhered to an intertidal wall in Vigo harbor (Spain) during low tide. It covered multiple barnacles, potentially threatening their survival. We present photos of this novel debris-animal interaction and discuss possible effects that such cover could have on barnacles.

This editorial summarizes three publications focusing on microplastics in deep-sea habitats in the northern South China Sea, microplastic release from ship coatings and the worldwide distribution of plastitar (plastic embedded in crude oil residues).

Microplastics (MPs; plastic particles < 5 mm in size) are very common nowadays and ubiquitous in the environment and can cause harm to aquatic organisms. Around 300 million metric tonnes of plastic are manufactured each year and they are regularly mismanaged. Therefore, MPs are frequently found in the environment. Anthropogenic activity in urban ar...

Plastic forms, including plastiglomerate, pyroplastic, plasticrusts, anthropoquinas, plastistone and plastitar, were recorded worldwide. These plastic forms derive from geochemical or geophysical interactions such as heat-induced plastic fusion with rock in campfires, incomplete plastic combustion, water motion-driven plastic abrasion in the rocky...

Plasticrusts are a plastic form that consists of plastic encrusting intertidal rocks. To date, plasticrusts have been reported on Madeira Island (Atlantic Ocean), Giglio Island (Mediterranean Sea) and in Peru (Pacific Ocean) but information on plasticrust sources, generation, degeneration and fate is largely missing. To address these knowledge gaps...

Plasticrusts, plastiglomerate and pyroplastics are novel plastic forms that are currently being reported from marine coastlines worldwide. Plasticrusts consist of plastic encrusting rocky intertidal surfaces, plastiglomerates are bonds of melted plastic and (in)organic materials, and pyroplastic is burned plastic with a rock-like appearance. In thi...

Abstract: Pyroplastic and plastiglomerate have been recorded along marine coastlines worldwide. Pyroplastic is burned plastic with a rock-like appearance. Plastiglomerate is a solid bond consisting of either melted plastic firmly attached to rock (in-situ plastiglomerate) or a melted plastic matrix containing (in)organic material (clastic plastiglo...

Pyroplastic and plastiglomerate are novel plastic forms that are currently being reported from coastal beaches worldwide. Pyroplastic is burned plastic with a rock-like appearance. Plastiglomerate is a solid bond consisting of either melted plastic attached to rock (in-situ plastiglomerate) or a melted plastic matrix containing (in)organic material...

The Irish Sea is an important area for Norway Lobster Nephrops norvegicus fisheries, which are the most valuable fishing resource in the UK. Norway lobster are known to ingest microplastic pollution present in the sediment and have displayed reduced body mass when exposed to microplastic pollution. Here, we identified microplastic pollution in the...

This presentation was given at the Ecological Society of America Meeting in August 2021. It is based on the following article: Ehlers, S. M., Ellrich, J. A. & Koop, J. H. E. (2022) Microplastic load and polymer type composition in European rocky intertidal snails: Consistency across locations, wave exposure and years. Environmental Pollution 292:...

Plastiglomerate and pyroplastic are two novel plastic debris forms that were originally discovered on sandy beaches in Hawaii and the UK, respectively. While plastiglomerate consists of plastic melted together with rocks or pebbles, pyroplastic is melted plastic. Although both plastic debris forms were related to campfires, it is unclear whether th...

Microplastic ingestion by lower trophic level organisms is well known, whereas information on microplastic ingestion, egestion and accumulation by top predators such as cetaceans is still lacking. This study investigates microplastics in intestinal samples from harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) found along the coastline of SchleswigHolstein (Ge...

This EcoPic shows a caddisfly larva which uses microplastics as case building material.

Plasticrusts and pyroplastic: two novel plastic debris types detected in Giglio island, Italy Plasticrusts and pyroplastic are novel plastic debris types that have only recently been reported for the first time from Madeira island (NE Atlantic Ocean) and the southern United Kingdom, respectively. While plasticrusts seemingly result from plastic d...

Microplastic abundances have been studied intensively in the last years in marine and freshwater environments worldwide. Though several articles have been published about the Mediterranean Sea, only few studies about the Black Sea exist. The Black Sea drains into the Mediterranean Sea and may therefore significantly contribute to the Mediterranean...

Plastic pollution has enormous impacts on freshwater and marine ecosystem health, and it is one of the topmost environmental concerns of the current geological period (i.e. the Anthropocene). Thus, the goal of our study was to provide baseline information and bridge the information gap on the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in African freshwater...

Caddisfly larvae occur in streams and rivers, and many caddisfly species build protective cases using material from their habitat such as sand grains. At the same time, microplastics (MPs) are regularly deposited in aquatic sediments and are incorporated into caddisfly (Lepidostoma basale) cases in the field. However, it is unknown what the effects...

We report the presence of ‘plasticrusts’ and ‘pyroplastic’ from coastal habitats in Giglio island, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. These novel plastic debris types have only recently been described for the first time from Madeira island (NE Atlantic Ocean) and the United Kingdom, respectively. While ‘plasticrusts’ are generated by sea waves smashing plastic...

Ingestion & egestion of fluorescent microplastics by the freshwater snail Radix balthica

Microplastics are pollutants threatening the health of marine, freshwater and terrestrial organisms. To analyze whether an organism is able to ingest microplastics, the organism is usually fed with expensive fluorescent microbeads and placed under a fluorescence microscope for microplastic detection. However , such equipment cannot be afforded by m...

We report the presence of 'plasticrusts' and 'pyroplastic' from coastal habitats in Giglio island, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. These novel plastic debris types have only recently been described for the first time from Madeira island (NE Atlantic Ocean) and the United Kingdom, respectively. While 'plasticrusts' are generated by sea waves smashing plastic...

Identification and quantification of microplastics (MP) in environmental samples is crucial for understanding the risk and distribution of MP in the environment. Currently, quantification of MP particles in environmental samples and the comparability of different matrices is a major research topic. Research also focusses on sample preparation, sinc...

We suggest the usage of an ultraviolet (UV) light‐emitting flashlight in combination with low‐cost fluorescent microplastics during microplastic feeding experiments. This novel method enables microplastic visualization in freshwater snail (Radix balthica) feces and, thus, provides information on microplastic retention in the snail digestive system....

Freshwater environments are the route through which inland plastics are transported to the ocean, explaining why the number of freshwater microplastic (MP) studies has recently been increasing. Despite the lack of recycling and the presence of severe plastic pollution in many African countries, MPs have been scarcely reported in African freshwaters...

Microplastics of different characteristics are incorporated into the larval cases of the freshwater caddisfly Lepidostoma basale Sonja M. Ehlers*, Werner Manz, Jochen H. E. Koop ABSTRACT: Plastic pollution is present in aquatic systems worldwide. While numerous studies investigate microplastic interactions with marine organisms, microplastic effec...

Authors: Sonja M. Ehlers; Werner Manz; Jochen H. E. Koop Abstract: Plastic pollution is present in aquatic systems worldwide. While numerous studies investigate microplastic effects on marine organisms, microplastic effects on freshwater organisms are rarely studied. Insects, which are of high ecological importance, are particularly rarely conside...

Freshwater ecosystems worldwide are exposed to plastic debris. Therefore, the applicability and efficiency of numerous analytical methods is currently being evaluated. At the German Federal Institute of Hydrology, we are investigating the characteristics, ecological effects, fate and distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems. At the Depar...

The dogwhelk Nucella lapillus is a rocky intertidal gastropod of the North Atlantic coast. Individual shell color varies. Common colors range between white and brown, with darker dogwhelks being more affected by heat stress than lighter-colored conspecifics. Other reported shell colors are purple, black, mauve, pink, yellow, and orange from UK coas...

The dogwhelk Nucella lapillus is a rocky intertidal gastropod of the North Atlantic coast. Individual shell color varies. Common colors range between white and brown, with darker dogwhelks being more affected by heat stress than lighter-colored conspecifics. Other reported shell colors are black, mauve, pink, yellow, and orange from European coasts...