The table provides a summary of peer-reviewed evidence of marine plastic impact on animal life based on analysis by Rocham et al. (2016).1 The review is based on publications through the year 2013. This data is also presented in the review by Law (2017).2
MF is an abbreviation for monofilament line.
| Study | Animal | Encounter type | Predominant debris type | Impact (response) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen et al. 2012 | Grey seals | Entanglement | MF line, net, rope | Constriction |
| Beck & Barros, 1991 | Manatees | Entanglement | MF line, bags, other debris | Death |
| Campagna et al. 2007 | Elephant seals | Entanglement | MF line, fishing jigs | Dermal wound |
| Croxall et al. 1990 | Fur seals | Entanglement | Packing band, fishing gear, other debris | Dermal wound |
| Dau et al. 2009 | Seabirds, pinnipeds | Entanglement | Fishing gear | External wound |
| Fowler 1987 | Fur seals | Entanglement | Trawl netting, packing bands | Death |
| Fowler 1987 (correlative evidence only) | Fur seals | Entanglement | Trawl netting, packing bands | Reduced population size |
| Good et al. 2010 | Invertebrates, fish, seabirds, marine mammals | Entanglement | Derelict gillnets | Death |
| Moore et al. 2009 | Seabirds, marine mammals | Entanglement | Plastic, fishing line | Death |
| Pham et al. 2013 | Gorgonians | Entanglement | Fishing line | Damage/breakage |
| Velez-Rubio et al. 2013 | Sea turtles | Entanglement | Fishing gear | Death |
| Winn et al. 2008 | Whales | Entanglement | Plastic line | Dermal wound |
| Woodward et al. 2006 | Whales | Entanglement | Plastic line | Dermal wound |
| Beck & Barros 1991 | Manatees | Ingestion | MF line, bags, other debris | Death |
| Bjorndal et al. 1994 | Sea turtles | Ingestion | MF line, fish hooks, other debris | Intestinal blockage, death |
| Brandao et al. 2011 | Penguins | Ingestion | Plastic, fishing gear, other debris | |
| Browne et al. 2013 | Lugworms (laboratory) | Ingestion | Microplastics | Biochemical/cellular, death |
| Bugoni et al. 2001 | Sea turtles | Ingestion | Plastic bags, ropes | Gut obstruction, death |
| Carey 2011 | Seabirds | Ingestion | Plastic particles, pellets | Perforated gut |
| Cedervall et al. 2012 | Fish (laboratory) | Ingestion | Nanoparticles | Biochemical/cellular |
| Connors & Smith 1982 (correlative evidence only) | Seabirds | Ingestion | Plastic pellets, foam | Biochemical/cellular |
| Dau et al. 2009 | Seabirds, pinnipeds | Ingestion | Fishing hooks | Internal wound |
| de Stephanis et al. 2013 | Sperm whale | Ingestion | Identifiable litter items | Gastric rupture, death |
| Fry et al. 1987 | Seabirds | Ingestion | Plastic fragments, pellets, identifiable litter | Gut impaction, ulcerative lesions |
| Jacobsen et al. 2010 | Sperm whales | Ingestion | Fishing gear, other debris | Gastric rupture, gut impaction, death |
| Lee et al. 2013 | Copepods (laboratory) | Ingestion | Micro- and nanoplastics | Death |
| Oliveira et al. 2013 | Fish (laboratory) | Ingestion | Microplastics | Biochemical/cellular |
| Rochman et al. 2013a-c | Fish (laboratory) | Ingestion | Microplastics | Biochemical/cellular |
| Ryan 1988 | Birds (laboratory) | Ingestion | Microplastics | Reduced organ size |
| Velez-Rubio et al. 2013 | Sea turtles | Ingestion | Marine debris | Gut obstruction |
| Wright et al. 2013 | Lugworms (laboratory) | Ingestion | Microplastics | Biochemical/cellular |
| Von Moos et al. 2012 | Mussels (laboratory) | Ingestion and gill uptake | Microplastics | Biochemical/cellular |
| Katsanevakis et al. 2007 | Epibenthic megafauna | Interaction (contact) | Plastic bottles, glass jars | Altered assemblage |
| Lewis et al. 2009 | Sessile invertebrates (coral reef) | Interaction (contact) | Lobster traps | Altered assemblage |
| Uneputty & Evans 1997 (correlative evidence only) | Assemblage on sediment | Interaction (contact) | Plastic litter | Altered assemblage |
| Chiappone et al. 2002 | Sessile invertebrates (coral reef) | Interaction (contact) | MF line, lobster trap, hook and line gear | Tissue abrasion |
| Chiappone et al. 2005 | Sessile invertebrates (coral reef) | Interaction (contact) | Hook and line gear | Tissue abrasion |
| Uhrin & Schellinger 2011 | Seagrass | Interaction (contact) | Crab pots, tires, wood | Breakage, suffocation, death |
| Ozdilek et al. 2006 (correlative evidence only) | Sea turtles | Interaction (obstruction) | Waste, medical waste | Reduced population size |
| Widmer & Hennemann 2010 (correlative evidence only) | Ghost crabs | Interaction (obstruction) | Beach litter, mostly plastic | Reduced population size |
| Widmer & Hennemann 2010 (correlative evidence only) | Ghost crabs | Interaction (substrate) | Beach litter, mostly plastic | Altered assemblage |
| Goldstein et al. 2012 (correlative evidence only) | Marine insects | Interaction (substrate) | Microplastics | Increased population size |