Poster Details
ASSESSMENT OF NOVEL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR ANTHROPOGENIC LITTER ON URBAN BEACHES
Anthropogenic litter (i.e., trash; AL) accumulates in ecosystems worldwide, with negative ecological and economic effects. Management of AL is an increasing priority, but reduction or prevention strategies are rarely tested. On an urban beach in Chicago, IL, we measured the effects of newly designed ashtrays (i.e., “vote with your butt”), combined with educational and community involvement initiatives about littering, both designed to reduce beach AL. Data were collected at treatment and control beaches biweekly for 14 weeks. We collected AL around and inside installed ashtrays and along multiple transects spanning beach width. The ashtrays had no effect on cigarette AL density (No. m-2) or relative amount of cigarettes (% of total AL) in the collected zones. In addition, the engagement initiatives did not generate any differences between the treatment and control sites for the beach zone for any of the AL metrics (i.e., total AL or cigarette AL). While the two novel interventions did not reduce AL, results from this study will be used to guide the re-design, implementation, and assessment of future AL management interventions.
Veronica Lourich (Primary Presenter/Author), Loyola University Chicago, vlourich@luc.edu;
Sarah Neville ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Alliance for the Great Lakes, sneville@greatlakes.org;
Olga Lyandres ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Alliance for the Great Lakes, OLyandres@greatlakes.org;
Timothy Hoellein ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Loyola University Chicago, thoellein@luc.edu;
Dr. Hoellein is a freshwater ecologist at Loyola University Chicago. His research interests are focused on ecosystem processes and biogeochemistry. His research lab explores these areas in associate with the movement and biological transformation of elements, energy, and pollution in aquatic ecosystems.