Legacy of “New Normal” Plastics and “New Nitrogen” in the Cyanotoxin Footprint in Mangrove Ecosystems

In a paradigm shift in plastic wastes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, wetlands such as mangroves are threatened by new form of pollution, plastics, on top eutrophication estuarine waters nitrogen and phosphorus wastes/effluents that lead cyanobacterial proliferation. Both nutrient pollution prosperity cyanotoxin-producing cyanobacteria flourish both disperse leading detriment fauna flora mangrove ecosystem resulting toxicities. Although cyanotoxins still relatively poorly studied phenomenon mangroves, their presence does create focus attention biofilm formation resultant flotation sinking properties linked mats debris. Sri Lanka, being first country world conserve all its wetlands, have responsibility prevent invasion plastics this protected ecosystem, binding with Ramsar Convention, precluding waste concomitant footprint, is task at hand relative authorities. The path ahead mandates we study for proliferation, formation, fates (flotation, dispersal sinking), cyanotoxin production changes attributed—or linked—to impacts ecosystems. Cyanotoxins long-lived, it paramount find necessary mechanisms eliminate or curtail ecosystems while establishing surveillance monitoring producers harmful agents. Cyanobacteria although vehicles fixation replenishing nutrients an N-depleted could enhancements production. However, remains ambiguous applied phycology relation mangroves. “New normal” lodged mostly surfaces bark, prop roots, pneumatophores, which localities where highest level fixed, may proliferation N-fixing, cyanobacteria, repercussions Therefore, crucial monitor sanitizing plastics-imprinted lessen footprint from overload.