What are some of the environmental effects that the great pacific garbage patch have on the plant life in the north pacific gyre?
Plastics in the ocean are not biodegrading but just breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces. The plankton in this area are actually just little pieces of plastic. Fish that swim by and eat the plankton are also eating these mini pieces of plastic. This effects the fishes health. We also eat fish, thus causing us to eat the plastic that was eaten by the fish.

What can San Diego beach-goers do to eliminate their contribution to the collection of trash in the North Pacific Gyre?
San Diego beach-goers can lessen their contribution to the collection of trash by putting their garbage in garbage cans so that it doesn't collect in the ocean. They can also use more eco-friendly products such as allumanium cans/bottle instead of plastic ones.