Plasticrusts derive from maritime ropes scouring across raspy rocks

Abstract

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 lacking and it is unknown which type of plastic debris the plasticrusts derive from. Therefore, we examined the Madeira rocky intertidal for signs of plasticrust formation and collected plasticrust and co-occurring plastic debris pieces of matching colors. We examined all collected materials using digital microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. We found that plasticrusts can result from maritime ropes being scoured across raspy intertidal rocks and that the plasticrusts and the corresponding ropes consisted of polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Furthermore, we show that high temperatures contribute to plasticrust formation. Thereby, our study provides first insights into the complex plasticrust formation process.