How natural disasters affect the distribution of marine litter in protected island ecosystems (Seaflower Biosphere Reserve — Colombia)

Islands are particularly vulnerable to storms and hurricanes, which can cause severe environmental, economic, and social impacts, including the accumulation of waste in marine ecosystems. In November 2020, Hurricane Iota struck the islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Colombia. This study assesses the distribution, composition, and sources of marine litter after the hurricane, focusing on variations observed across coastal ecosystems such as beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs. A comparative analysis of data from 2019 and 2021 reveals significant differences in how the island's diverse ecosystems interact with marine litter, underscoring the impact of extreme events on these environments. While mangroves and back-beach vegetation act as retention zones, particularly for plastic waste, these ecosystems showed a marked reduction in litter density in 2021, likely due to direct removal efforts during recovery and hurricane-driven oceanographic processes that may have redistributed lighter litter. In contrast, sandy beaches experienced an increase in litter following the hurricane, highlighting their greater vulnerability to litter deposition transported by waves and wind during extreme weather events. These findings emphasize the complexity of managing marine litter after natural disasters and underscore the need for enhanced waste management strategies in vulnerable island ecosystems.