Marine debris knows no boundaries: Characteristics of debris accumulation in marine protected areas of the Florida Keys.

Marine debris is a persistent and pervasive threat worldwide including inside marine protected areas (MPAs). To assess marine debris accumulation rates and potential impacts, we counted and evaluated trap, non-trap fishing gear, and non-fishing debris in unprotected areas and MPAs with different management boundary regulations in the Florida Keys (USA). Analyses identified that neither MPA type nor size were strong drivers of debris density and that debris densities were not statistically different between unprotected areas and MPAs.

Ocean acidification disrupts the orientation of postlarval Caribbean spiny lobsters.

Anthropogenic inputs into coastal ecosystems are causing more frequent environmental fluctuations and reducing seawater pH. One such ecosystem is Florida Bay, an important nursery for the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus. Although adult crustaceans are often resilient to reduced seawater pH, earlier ontogenetic stages can be physiologically limited in their tolerance to ocean acidification on shorter time scales.