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PARENGYODONTIUM ALBUM

6th June, 2024

PARENGYODONTIUM ALBUM

Source: Laboratory Equipment

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

  • Scientists found that Parengyodontium album degrades UV-exposed polyethylene plastic in the ocean.
  • This discovery highlights potential solutions for plastic pollution, emphasizing the need for further research on other marine plastic-degrading organisms.

Details

Key Points

  • Microbial Hope:
    • Fungus Parengyodontium album can degrade polyethylene (PE)
  • Sunlight Activation:
    • Degradation requires prior exposure to UV radiation.
  • Oceanic Ecosystem:
    • Fungus resides with other marine microbes on oceanic plastic litter.
  • Pollution Hotspot Focus:
    • Research conducted in North Pacific Ocean plastic pollution hotspots.
  • Degradation Rate Assessment:
    • PE breakdown rate by the fungus is approximately 0.05% per day.
  • Deeper Ocean Exploration:
    • Future research aims to find other plastic-degrading organisms in deeper ocean layers.
  • Environmental Significance:
    • Significant for managing marine plastic pollution and environmental conservation.
  • Subtropical Gyre Accumulation:
    • Highlights accumulation of plastic in subtropical gyres like the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Location:

  • The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is one of five major gyres in the world's oceans.
  • It is a large region of slow-moving ocean currents located in the northern Pacific Ocean, roughly centred between Hawaii and California.

Currents:

  • The gyre is formed by the convergence of several surface currents, including the Kuroshio Current, the North Pacific Current, the California Current, and the Easterly Current.
  • These currents circulate clockwise due to the influence of the Coriolis effect.

Subtropical Convergence Zone:

  • The centre of the gyre is characterized by a region of high pressure and stable weather conditions, with minimal wind and upwelling. This area is also known as the Subtropical Convergence Zone (STCZ).

Sources:

Laboratory Equipment

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. A recent discovery offers a glimmer of hope for managing plastic pollution in the oceans. This discovery is related to the ability of a specific fungus to degrade which type of plastic?

a)Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

b)Polystyrene (PS)

c)Polyethylene (PE)

d)Polypropylene (PP)

Answer: c)