Fig. 1. Neopelagic community rafting on floating plastic debris in ocean surface waters.

Neopelagic communities are composed of pelagic species, evolved to live on floating marine substrates and marine animals, and coastal species, once assumed incapable of surviving long periods of time on the high seas. The emergence of a persistent neopelagic community in the open ocean is due to the vast supply of durable and highly buoyant plastic pollution as suitable habitat for both pelagic and coastal rafting species. Examples of pelagic rafting species are: a gooseneck barnacle Lepas anatifera, b flotsam crab Planes major, and c bryozoan Jellyella tuberculata. Examples of coastal rafting species commonly found on floating plastic debris on the high seas include: d podded hydroid Aglaophenia pluma, e Asian anemones Anthopleura sp., and f amphipod Stenothoe gallensis. Illustrated by © 2021 Alex Boersma.