The plastisphere menace

A new world: Plastic debris in the ocean has spawned a ¿plastisphere¿ of organisms that scientists fear may send ripples through the marine ecosystem.

An ecosystem of mankind’s own making could pose an ecological threat.

ELIZABETH Lopez manoeuvred a massive steel claw over the side of a 45m sailboat and guided its descent through swaying kelp and schools of fish 16km off the coast of San Diego, California. She was hoping to catch pieces of a mysterious marine ecosystem that scientists are calling the “plastisphere”.