Drifting plastic debris as a potential vector for dispersing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species

Abstract

Macroscopic observations of floating plastic debris collected at several places along the Catalan coast (northwestern Mediterranean) showed conspicuous green-yellow patches adhered to them. The microscopic examination of these patches showed that they were constituted mainly of benthic diatoms and small flagellates (

Keywords

• dinoflagellates
• alexandrium
• temporary cyst
• hab
• plastic debris
• mediterranean