Anthropogenic debris ingestion in a tropical seabird community: Insights from taxonomy and foraging distribution

Microplastics in faeces of European shags Gulosus aristotelis in central Norway

Plastic pollution is an increasing problem in the marine environment, and microplastics are frequently ingested by wildlife, including seabirds. Faeces are an increasingly used matrix to quantify egested microplastics. We investigated microplastics in 36 faeces samples from chicks of European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) sampled at Sklinna, central Norway in 2021. Small particles <300 μm (62 %) dominated the material. Out of 465 particles measured with Raman spectroscopy, 32 were identified as microplastics (21 fragments, 4 fibres). 69.4 % of faecal samples contained microplastics, with on average 17 microplastic particles per g faeces dry weight. Sixteen of the 36 samples originated from siblings sampled within the same hour, and plastic loads of these samples were more similar to each other compared to those from other individuals. This suggests that a sample from one chick is representative for all siblings at a given moment in time and proofs parental transfer of MP.

Influence of paternal factors on plastic ingestion and brominated chemical exposure in East Tropical Atlantic Procellariid chicks

The presence of plastic debris and organo-brominated compounds in the marine environment poses a concern to wildlife. Plastic can absorb and release chemical compounds, making their ingestion potentially harmful, while chemical compounds have become omnipresent, with a tendency to bioaccumulate in the food web. Seabirds are often used as indicators of marine plastic pollution, yet studies on the exposure of tropical communities to plastic contamination are still scarce. In this study we monitored the amounts of plastics in faeces and organo-brominated compounds ingested/assimilated in feathers by adults and chicks of Cape Verde shearwaters and Bulwer's petrels from Cabo Verde. Anthropogenic pollutants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and naturally generated methoxylated-PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) were among the probed compounds. The frequency of plastic debris ingestion was similar in both species' adults and chicks, although, the characteristics of the ingested plastic differed. Frequency and number of microplastics increased throughout the nestling season for chicks from both species. All species and age groups showed the presence of PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs. Among PBDEs, Bulwer's petrels exhibited higher concentrations than Cape Verde shearwaters, and chicks had higher concentration profiles than adults. Specifically, Bulwer's petrel chicks showed higher concentrations than Cape Verde shearwater chicks. On the contrary, Cape Verde shearwater adults exhibited higher occurrence and concentrations of MeO-PBDEs when compared to Cape Verde shearwater chicks. We found no effect of plastic loadings or loadings of organohalogen contaminants on body condition or size, although harmful effects may be hidden or reveal themselves in a medium- to long-term. Feather samples from both adults and chicks were shown to be useful for comparing intraspecific contamination levels and appear suitable for the long-term assessment of organohalogen contaminants in seabirds. Species-specific foraging and feeding strategies are likely the drivers of the observed variation in organochlorine contamination burdens among seabird species.

Lost and found: Patterns of marine litter accumulation on the remote Island of Santa Luzia, Cabo Verde

Santa Luzia, an uninhabited island in the archipelago of Cabo Verde, serves as a natural laboratory and important nesting site for loggerhead turtles Carettacaretta. The island constitutes an Integral Natural Reserve and a Marine Protected Area. We assessed marine litter accumulation on sandy beaches of the island and analysed their spatial patterns using two sampling methods: at a fine scale, sand samples from 1 × 1 m squares were collected, identifying debris larger than 1 mm; at a coarse scale, drone surveys were conducted to identify visible marine debris (>25 mm) in aerial images. We sampled six points on three beaches of the island: Achados (three points), Francisca (two points) and Palmo Tostão (one point). Then, we modelled the abundance of marine debris using topographical variables as explanatory factors, derived from digital surface models (DSM). Our findings reveal that the island is a significant repository for marine litter (>84% composed of plastics), with up to 917 plastic items per m2 in the sand samples and a maximum of 38 macro-debris items per m2 in the drone surveys. Plastic fragments dominate, followed by plastic pellets (at the fine-scale approach) and fishing materials (at the coarse-scale approach). We observed that north-facing, higher-elevation beaches accumulate more large marine litter, while slope and elevation affect their spatial distribution within the beach. Achados Beach faces severe marine debris pollution challenges, and the upcoming climate changes could exacerbate this problem.

Microplastics ingestion and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) by breeding seabirds in the east tropical Atlantic: Associations with trophic and foraging proxies (δ15N and δ13C)

In this study we found that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were omnipresent in a tropical seabird community comprising diverse ecological guilds and distinct foraging and trophic preferences. Because EDCs tend to bioaccumulate within the food web and microplastics can absorb and release harmful chemical compounds, our findings draw attention to the potential threats to wildlife. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate the role of plastic ingestion, trophic and foraging patterns (δ15N and δ13C) of five tropical seabird species breeding in sympatry, on the exposure to EDCs, namely Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) and personal care products (PCPs, e.g., musk fragrances and UV-filters). Results indicated that microplastics occurrence and EDCs detection frequency varied among species. Microplastics occurrence was higher in species with dual and coastal foraging strategies. Preen oil had higher levels of MeO-PBDEs and PCPs, while serum had higher levels of PBDEs. In brown boobies, the correlation between microplastics and ∑PBDEs levels was significant, suggesting that microplastics ingestion is a key PBDEs route. Trophic position (δ15N) plays a key role in PBDEs accumulation, particularly in Bulwer's petrel, which occupies a high trophic position and had more specialized feeding ecology than the other species. MeO-PBDEs were linked to foraging habitat (δ13C), although the link to foraging locations deserves further investigation. Overall, our findings not only fill key gaps in our understanding of seabirds' exposure to microplastics and EDCs, but also provide an essential baseline for future research and monitoring efforts. These findings have broader implications for the marine wildlife conservation and pollution management in sensitive environments, such as the tropical regions off West Africa.

Environmental effects from petroleum product transportation spillage in Nigeria: a critical review

Nigeria has struggled to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) on environmental sustainability, transportation, and petroleum product distribution for decades, endangering human and ecological health. Petroleum product spills contaminate soil, water, and air, harming humans, aquatic life, and biodiversity. The oil and gas industry contributes to environmental sustainability and scientific and technological advancement through its supply chain activities in the transport and logistics sectors. This paper reviewed the effects of petroleum product transportation at three accident hotspots on Nigeria highway, where traffic and accident records are alarming due to the road axis connecting the southern and northern regions of the country. The preliminary data was statistically analysed to optimise the review process and reduce risk factors through ongoing data monitoring. Studies on Nigeria's petroleum product transportation spills and environmental impacts between the years 2013 and 2023 were critically analysed to generate updated information. The searches include Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Five hundred and forty peer-reviewed studies were analysed, and recommendations were established through the conclusions. The findings show that petroleum product transport causes heavy metal deposition in the environment as heavy metals damage aquatic life and build up in the food chain, posing a health risk to humans. The study revealed that petroleum product spills have far-reaching environmental repercussions and, therefore, recommended that petroleum product spills must be mitigated immediately. Furthermore, the study revealed that better spill response and stricter legislation are needed to reduce spills, while remediation is necessary to lessen the effects of spills on environmental and human health.

Microplastics in feces and pellets from yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia (NW Spain)

The Atlantic Islands National Park (AINP) in Galicia (NW of Spain) are host to large colonies of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis). Here, we aimed to provide baseline data for the presence of microplastics (MP) in feces and pellets regurgitated of these resident yellow-legged gulls within this unique ecosystem. MP particles found in the samples were of five shapes (fiber, fragment, foam, film and rubber) and the predominant color was blue. The main plastic polymers identified by Raman spectroscopy were polypropylene and cellulose. The average size of the MP particles in the regurgitations was larger than that in the feces. Considering the population of Larus michahellis in the AINP, our estimates suggested an annual deposition of approximately 32.2 million of MP particles from feces and regurgitated pellets in the area.