After learned about the Vortex Swim, I started to get curious about factors that help plastic deteriorate. I learned that there are microorganisms called bacteria that actually help break down plastic!
Ahh, welcome to my first blog post! Currently, I am learning about the Vortex Swim with my AP Biology teammates. What is the Vortex Swim exactly? The Vortex Swim is Ben Lecomte’s journey through the Plastic Vortex, located between the states of Hawaii and California (300 nautical miles). The purpose of the swim is to raise awareness of the amount of plastic found in this highly polluted area. This area in the ocean is known as the ‘The Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ due to its high concentration of plastic debris. I want to you to be as curious as my teammates and I on Lecomte’s journey on saving the world.
This swim has brought to my attention the severity of plastic pollution in our Earth. Our world is a precious place that we should take care of. We should take care of all organisms on the planet because biodiversity is important to the functions of all ecosystems. Each species has an important role that cannot be replaced by another when they are extinct. Learning about how the plastic we use in our everyday lives have accumulated into tonnes of plastic in the ocean has made me recognize how much humans are abusing other ecosystems that are vital. I want to be part of Lecomte’s journey on spreading awareness of this issue. Below, I attached a video that had truly moved me to understand the effects of plastic pollution on our ecosystems, especially our aquatic ecosystems.
After learning about the Vortex Swim, I have been interested in learning about how the vortex pulls the plastic in a specific location. In the video “The Vortex Swim – Ben Lecomte“, Lecomte stated that “Ocean currents… have pooled [plastic] together into a sort of ‘soup’ of rubbish.” I am curious as to how these currents are able to pull all these amounts of plastic into The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I am also curious about the aquatic life there and how much they have been impacted by the accumulating plastic. I hope the Vortex Swim has sparked your curiosity as much as it has mine.
My curious questions are:
How do the currents in the Plastic Vortex pull the plastic in one specific area?
How does plastic break down in the ocean and what organisms are responsible for breaking plastic down?
How is biodiversity and aquatic life impacted by the accumulating plastic in The Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
What equipment did Lecomte and his crew use to collect data?
Do you think Ben Lecomte will do another challenge soon?
Check out Ben Lecomte’s #TheVortexSwim challenge on Instagram:
The Leatherback Trust, director. Removing a Plastic Straw from a Sea Turtle’s Nostril – Short Version. YouTube, YouTube, 12 Aug. 2015, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2J2qdOrW44.
Arabella Krystienne's AP Biology Blog 