The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: From Trash Heap to Thriving Ecosystem.

Coastal species are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, with evidence of reproduction in their plastic homes, according to a study published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution journal. The diversity and frequency of coastal species found on more than 70% of debris is new, and researchers suggest that the plastisphere may provide new opportunities for coastal species to expand populations into the open ocean, altering oceanic communities and ecosystem processes. The study highlights the urgent need for policy intervention to reduce plastic waste entering the ocean.