I will have to say that one of my Professors a few years back told us of a research expedition she was on in the gyre, and they had visited a Albatross breeding area and found numerous chicks dead in nest. After a necropsy it was determined that the chicks had died of malnutrition as they were found with large amounts of plastics in their bellies.

But these tend to be nearer the sources, and at the effluence of rivers, where there are smaller gyre-like surface conditions that are probably more temporary.

Like this:

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/sea-of-garbage.html

This could be considered worst than if it was just a bunch of plastic bottles floating around – The gyre is a big feeding are for animals that eat plankton (the plankton make it there for the same reason the plastic does). As animals eat the plastic it builds up within the animal, and then as those animals are eaten by predators they consume the plastics. We call this “biomagnfication”.

Another good organization workign on the Pacific Gyre Garbage Patch
http://www.projectkaisei.org/

Bob – Greg has pretty much covered it, but if you’re interested in more info & photos, our FAQ is linked to under my name.

Nor is there anything in the GP graphic that sais that there is what Skeptoid says people say there is. In other words, Septoid seems to have made up this myth so he could bust it.

NEBOB: You think Mariam talks fast, you should see me in person…