Projeto_LixoMarinho_macrolitter.xlsx

This dataset contains 1 csv file (Projeto_LixoMarinho_macrolitter.xlsx), divided in 3 sheets. One sheet is the core file, which contains information about station label (S1, S2, S3 and S4), data of collection, GPS coordinates in decimal degrees, strata (dune, water and middle), sampling protocol, effort and sampled area. One sheet contains environmental data, as wind direction and intensity and beach width collected during the sampling. One sheet contains marine litter data as material, type, source, colour, degree of hardness, size and weight. A “parameters information” text file contains description and/or measured unit of columns content for the three csv files. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines <strong>marine</strong> <strong>litter</strong> as 'any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the <strong>marine</strong> and coastal environment'. Marine litter were collected in Cassino beach in Rio Grande municipality, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in four points (S1, S2, S3, S4). S4 started to be sampled in May 2016. Some months was not possible to sample S4 due meteorological conditions that difficulted access to this point. Sampling were done monthly from 2015 (December), 2016 (January – December, except September), 2018 (December) and 2019 (January-March). Items were removed from dune base and wrack line strata in a 200 m² transects triplicate. In middle strata area vary according beach width and only started to be sampled in January 2017. The items were divided in 8 material-categories (Fabric, Glass, Metal, Other, Paper, Plastic, Rubber and Wood), 8 sources-categories (Domestic, Domestic / Tourism, Fishery, International, Religious, Tourism, Undetermined and Vessel) and 119 types (specific items). Type, material and source list was based in UNEP/IOC Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter guide, 2009 with the addition of region-specific items. All data were collected by Projeto Lixo Marinho by Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG). GPS positions were taken for each sampling site. All items were removed from the beach, cleaned and dried in laboratory, after taking measures all items were properly disposed of and recycled (where possible).<b></b>