The Beachcomber's Guide to Marine Debris

ISBN-13: 9783319907277 / Angielski / Miękka / 2018 / 358 str.

Michael Stachowitsch

Opis

This richly illustrated book serves as the ideal guide to the items that litter the world's beaches. Complete with more than 700 color photographs, the guide shows the full range of marine debris items, each presented with insight and a pinch of humor.

Spis treści

Foreword 

Preface 

Introduction

      Guide format 

      The marine debris problem 

      The beach environment

      What can you and I do?

Glass

      bottles

      glass pieces 

      light bulbs / fluorescent light tubes

Metal

      cans

      bottle caps/pull tabs

      canisters

      drums

      household items / appliances

      vehicles and tires

Plastic

      pellets 

      beverage containers

      bottles

      cups, straws

      caps, lids 

      tetrapacks

      6-pack holders

      canisters

      toys

      balloons

      bags and packaging

      shotgun shells

Foamed plastic (styrofoam)

      cups / plates / food containers

      beanbags

      buoys 

      packing material    

Personal hygiene

      bathroom items

      tampons / tampon applicators

      diapers

      condoms

Medical wastes

      syringes

      medications

      hospital wastes

Furniture & furnishings

      beach furniture

      toilets & Co.

      appliances & home electronics

Apparel

      footwear

      flip-flops / shoes

      clothing

      gloves

      hats

Water sports

      snorkelling equipment

      flotation devices

      surfboards

Fishing gear

      hook, line and sinker

      glow sticks

      nets

      buoys 

      fishing crates

Wood

      Pallets 

      crates

      boats 

      lumber/planks

      household

Paper

      cups

      packaging

      newspapers / magazines 

      fireworks

Organic debris

      fruits & vegetables

      snacks

      dung

      cadavers

Oil and Tar

      crude oil

      tar balls

      oil spills

Smoking

      cigarette butts

      cigarette packages

      cigars

      lighters

Acknowledgements   

References

Further Reading

Contacts  

Index

O autorze

Michael Stachowitsch received his B.Sc. degree at the Univ. of Pittsburgh and his Ph.D. at the Univ. of Vienna. He has successfully managed to maintain a career as a marine biologist in a landlocked country, conducting research in the Adriatic and Red Seas and teaching numerous university courses. He is the long-term Austrian coordinator of a Mediterranean sea turtle conservation project in Turkey and represents Austria at the International Whaling Commission. Michael's many activities as a scientist, author, translator and editor have taken him to beaches around the globe: the fauna and flora differ from shore to shore, the beach litter is astoundingly uniform – and abundant. Decades on hands and knees with a camera yielded this book and revealed unsettling truths about human attitudes and behavior.

Blurb

This richly illustrated book serves as the ideal guide to the items that litter the world’s beaches. Forget sea shells and other fauna and flora. Here, you will find what a beachcomber is actually most likely to encounter these days: glass, plastic, wood, metal, paper, oil, and other sources of marine pollution!

Complete with nearly 700 photographs, this guide shows the full range of marine debris items, each presented with insight and a pinch of humor. In addition, the author provides full details about these items. You will learn everything worth knowing about them. This includes not just their sources and decomposition stages. Discover the threat each item poses to these beautiful environments as well as prevention strategies, clean-up recommendations, alternative products, and recycling and upcycling ideas.

Beyond the aesthetic issue, marine debris poses a threat to wildlife, human health, and economic welfare. This book arms you with the knowledge you need to combat these disgraceful and often hazardous eyesores. Become a beach detective! Travel the world’s most beloved tourist destinations with this ultimate beach read and help restore these fascinating environments to their natural beauty.