Invasive Species Are Riding Plastics Across Oceans

Summary

The video explores the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which sent massive debris, including ghost ships and personal items, across the Pacific to the U.S. west coast. Marine creatures hitched rides on this debris, posing an ecological threat. Scientists were baffled by how these coastal species survived the journey. The event revealed how plastic debris has created a new marine environment, impacting ecosystems. The video highlights both the ecological risks and the shared global responsibility to manage and protect ocean environments.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011 caused a massive amount of debris, including personal possessions, garbage, and even ghost ships, to wash up on the American west coast.
• 🐠 The debris carried with it large colonies of sea creatures that were able to cross the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon scientists hadn't seen before on such a large scale.
• 🚢 A massive 60-foot Japanese fisheries dock, covered in marine life, washed up in Oregon in 2012, creating concern about the potential introduction of invasive species.
• 🐙 Coastal species that aren't typically suited for long ocean journeys were found thriving on debris, challenging scientific understanding of marine species' ability to survive trans-oceanic migration.
• ⚠️ The invasive species found on debris posed an ecological threat, as they could establish themselves in new environments, potentially disrupting ecosystems and causing economic damage.
• 🔥 Authorities in Oregon took drastic measures to prevent the spread of invasive species by burying the dock’s marine life and using blowtorches to kill any remaining organisms.
• 🛥️ The tsunami also led to ghost ships, such as the Royal Maru, drifting across the ocean. Some were destroyed by the U.S. Coast Guard to prevent collisions.
• 🔬 Scientists were puzzled by how these creatures survived such long journeys, as the phenomenon had never been documented on this scale before.
• 🌍 The event highlighted how human-made materials, particularly plastic debris, have created a new marine environment, referred to as the 'neo-pelagic' environment, that facilitates species migration.
• 🌎 The tsunami debris, particularly from Japan, became a bridge between countries, with people finding and returning personal items washed up on foreign shores, fostering global connections.

Q & A

What unusual objects have been washing up on the American West Coast, and why?

Personal possessions, bits of garbage, and ghost ships without cargo or crew have been washing up due to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which devastated Japan and blasted debris into the sea.

How did sea creatures manage to cross the Pacific Ocean, and what was the potential impact?

Colonies of sea creatures hitched rides on debris from the tsunami, creating a mass rafting event that allowed coastal species to survive the journey across the ocean. This posed a potential ecological disaster as they could become invasive species.

What was the significance of the Japanese fisheries dock that washed up on Agate Beach, Oregon?

The 60-foot dock, which was ripped from the port of Misawa during the tsunami, arrived covered with marine animals and algae, including species that posed an invasive threat to the local ecosystem.

Why was it surprising that coastal species survived the journey across the ocean?

Scientists believed that coastal species could not survive in the open ocean for long periods. The fact that these organisms were thriving after such a long journey challenged previous scientific assumptions.

What ecological and economic risks do invasive species pose when they arrive in new environments?

Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems by growing rapidly without natural predators, outcompeting native species, and damaging industries such as fisheries and shellfish trades.

What measures were taken to prevent invasive species from spreading after the dock washed ashore?

Authorities scraped off the organisms from the dock, buried them under the sand, and used blow torches to ensure no living species remained, while scientists worked to identify the organisms.

What other types of debris washed up after the tsunami, and why are they problematic?

In addition to docks, ghost ships like the fishing vessel Ryou-Un Maru and small boats carrying species like striped beak fish washed ashore. These debris items are problematic due to the potential introduction of invasive species and the danger they pose to shipping lanes.

How has plastic debris changed the way organisms can spread across oceans?

Plastic debris creates a durable and long-lasting surface for organisms to hitch rides across oceans. This has led to the creation of a 'neo-pelagic' environment, where the ocean, once a barrier, now facilitates species migration on floating garbage.

What actions were taken by Japan and the U.S. to address the tsunami debris cleanup?

Japan created a gift fund to help U.S. states dealing with debris and sent millions of dollars for cleanup efforts. Japanese volunteers also traveled to the U.S. to help clean affected beaches.

What is the long-term ecological concern regarding tsunami debris and invasive species?

Even after a decade, some tsunami debris is still unaccounted for, including two docks. There is a concern that invasive species might establish themselves over time, and the event underscores how climate change and rising sea levels might increase the frequency of such occurrences.