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New life discovered growing on plastic waste

To: "'Chris Melrose'" <>, "'Jeremy O'Wheel'" <>
Subject: New life discovered growing on plastic waste
From: "Stephen Ambrose" <>
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 16:25:35 +1100
I have a similar thought to Christine. Most microbes are denser than
seawater, so sink to the lower ocean depths unless they are brought to, or
close to, the ocean surface by water currents.  Floating plastic could
provide a substrate for colonies of microbes that would otherwise sink more
readily to the lower ocean depths as soon as they are not being influenced
by those ocean currents.

Stephen Ambrose
Ryde NSW


-----Original Message-----
From: 
 On Behalf Of Chris Melrose
Sent: Wednesday, 13 November 2013 3:07 PM
To: Jeremy O'Wheel
Cc: Birding-Aus Aus
Subject: New life discovered growing on plastic waste

I understand Jeremy but it also depends on what type and size of plastic.
Plastic bags and bins filled with water tend to sink I believe. I have seen
plastic items on the substrate of Sydney Harbour. 
Chris

Christine Melrose
0407705140


> On 13 Nov 2013, at 14:41, "Jeremy O'Wheel" <> wrote:
> 
> The density of plastic and physics should tell you what items sink and
float.  
> 
> Jeremy
> 
> 
>> On 13 November 2013 13:52, Chris Melrose <> wrote:
>> A very interesting article indeed. How do they know, however, that the
plastic waste is not sinking to the ocean floor. It is not accurate to say
there is no increase without quantifying plastic debris within different
substrates of the ocean body in different locations and within different
periods of time.
>> Cheers
>> Chris
>> 
>> Christine Melrose
>> 0407705140
>> 
>> 
>> > On 13 Nov 2013, at 12:14, Carl Clifford <>
wrote:
>> >
>> > There is a growing problem with plastic waste in our oceans. Here is an
interesting slant to the problem.
>> >
>> > http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2013/11/13/3888603.htm
>> >
>> >
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