Particles released from tyre wear, a largely unseen yet growing source of pollution, can significantly alter the microscopic communities that support marine life. A new study provides the first assessment of the effects of tyre particle leachates on coastal microplankton communities in the waters surrounding Gran Canaria. The results revealed a marked reduction in the abundance of diatoms, dinoflagellates, and ciliates—key organisms at the base of the marine food web—even at concentrations comparable to those found in urban coastal environments. In contrast, Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a species associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs), exhibited much higher tolerance, potentially favouring its proliferation in polluted areas.
The study, carried out by Marta Sampalo, Rodrigo Almeda, and May Gómez from the EOMAR group (ECOAQUA Institute, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), contributes to Objective 1 of the ECOMARIS project: “To increase the quantity and quality of spatial data on the coastal and marine environment through advanced research and innovation technologies”, and more specifically to Activity 1.1.1, which focuses on human pressures on the marine environment. These findings highlight the urgent need to mitigate traffic-related pollution in order to safeguard the health of coastal ecosystems.
The full study can be read from the Results section onwards at the following link.