Plastic pollution: Practice Questions

Large pieces of plastic debris, such as discarded fishing nets and packing bands, are frequently found in the marine environment. What is the primary direct threat these items pose to marine mammals like seals and dolphins?

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic resulting from the breakdown of larger debris over long periods. What is the primary pathway by which these particles typically first enter the marine food web?

When plastic waste enters the marine environment, it undergoes fragmentation due to exposure to UV radiation and physical abrasion. Which statement best evaluates the long-term impact of these microplastics on marine food webs compared to larger plastic debris?

Which of the following is the largest area of plastic pollution formed by the action of ocean gyres?

Plastic pollution is often described as a long-term threat because plastics are very slow to break down. During this extremely slow degradation process, what secondary environmental hazard is released into the water?

Why are synthetic plastic materials considered a persistent long-term threat to marine environments?

Describe how the ingestion of large plastic debris can lead to the death of marine animals like sea turtles through starvation.

Human influences on the marine environment, such as plastic pollution, require effective management strategies to protect marine ecosystems.

(a) Describe one strategy that can be used to physically reduce the size of existing plastic garbage patches in the open ocean. (1 mark)

(b) Describe how education can be used as a strategy to limit the impact of plastic pollution on a local community. (1 mark)

(c) List the three principles of waste management known as the '3 Rs' and explain how reducing plastic use helps to protect marine ecosystems. (2 marks)

Large-scale circulation patterns in the ocean play a significant role in the distribution and accumulation of plastic waste.

(a) Define the term ocean gyre and explain how these systems lead to the formation of garbage patches. (3 marks)

(b) The Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains high concentrations of plastic debris. Explain the difference between the impacts of large plastics and microplastics on marine organisms. (2 marks)