1
|
Mills WF, Norris C, Black S, Phillips RA, Hammer S, Olsen B, Danielsen J. Plastic ingestion and trace element contamination of Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus on the Faroe Islands. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 204:116537. [PMID: 38838391 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Procellariiform seabirds can accumulate high levels of plastic in their gastrointestinal tracts, which can cause physical damage and potentially provides a contamination route for trace elements. We examined plastic ingestion and trace element contamination of fledgling Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus that were harvested for human consumption in 2003 and 2018 on Skúvoy, Faroe Islands (North Atlantic Ocean). Overall, 88% of fledglings contained plastic in their gastrointestinal tracts, with a mean (± SD) of 7.2 ± 6.6 items weighing 0.007 ± 0.016 g. Though the incidence was similar, fledglings ingested significantly more plastic in 2018 compared to 2003. Hepatic trace element concentrations were unrelated to plastic ingestion. Hepatic carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope values were significantly lower in birds sampled in 2018 versus 2003, potentially reflecting further offshore feeding at lower trophic levels. Future research is needed to understand the extent of plastic ingestion by Faroe Islands seabirds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William F Mills
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
| | | | - Stuart Black
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Sjúrður Hammer
- Faroese Environment Agency, Traðagøta 38, Argir FO-165, Faroe Islands
| | - Bergur Olsen
- Faroe Marine Research Institute, Nóatún 1, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Perold V, Connan M, Suaria G, Weideman EA, Dilley BJ, Ryan PG. Regurgitated skua pellets containing the remains of South Atlantic seabirds can be used as biomonitors of small buoyant plastics at sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116400. [PMID: 38692002 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Using seabirds as bioindicators of marine plastic pollution requires an understanding of how the plastic retained in each species compares with that found in their environment. We show that brown skua Catharacta antarctica regurgitated pellets can be used to characterise plastics in four seabird taxa breeding in the central South Atlantic, even though skua pellets might underrepresent the smallest plastic items in their prey. Fregetta storm petrels ingested more thread-like plastics and white-faced storm petrels Pelagodroma marina more industrial pellets than broad-billed prions Pachyptila vittata and great shearwaters Ardenna gravis. Ingested plastic composition (type, colour and polymer) was similar to floating plastics in the region sampled with a 200 μm net, but storm petrels were better indicators of the size of plastics than prions and shearwaters. Given this information, plastics in skua pellets containing the remains of seabirds can be used to track long-term changes in floating marine plastics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vonica Perold
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Maëlle Connan
- Department of Zoology, Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Giuseppe Suaria
- CNR-ISMAR (Institute of Marine Sciences - National Research Council), Lerici 19032, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Eleanor A Weideman
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Ben J Dilley
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gallagher KL, Cimino MA, Dinniman MS, Lynch HJ. Quantifying potential marine debris sources and potential threats to penguins on the West Antarctic Peninsula. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123714. [PMID: 38452836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Marine pollution is becoming ubiquitous in the environment. Observations of pollution on beaches, in the coastal ocean, and in organisms in the Antarctic are becoming distressingly common. Increasing human activity, growing tourism, and an expanding krill fishing industry along the West Antarctic Peninsula all represent potential sources of plastic pollution and other debris (collectively referred to as debris) to the region. However, the sources of these pollutants from point (pollutants released from discrete sources) versus non-point (pollutants from a large area rather than a specific source) sources are poorly understood. We used buoyant simulated particles released in a high-resolution physical ocean model to quantify pollutant loads throughout the region. We considered non-point sources of debris from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Bellingshausen Sea, Weddell Sea, and point source pollution from human activities including tourism, research, and fishing. We also determined possible origins for observed debris based on data from the Southern Ocean Observing System and Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research program. Our results indicate that point source pollution released in the coastal Antarctic is more likely to serve as a source for observed debris than non-point sources, and that the dominant source of pollution is region-specific. Penguin colonies in the South Shetland and Elephant Islands had the greatest debris load from point sources whereas loads from non-point sources were greatest around the southernmost colonies. Penguin colonies at Cornwallis Island and Fort Point were exposed to the highest theoretical debris loads. While these results do not include physical processes such as windage and Stokes Drift that are known to impact debris distributions and transport in the coastal ocean, these results provide critical insights to building an effective stratified sampling and monitoring effort to better understand debris distributions, concentrations, and origins throughout the West Antarctic Peninsula.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Gallagher
- Institute for Advanced Computational Sciences, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicols Road, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicols Road, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
| | - Megan A Cimino
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Michael S Dinniman
- Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Old Dominion University, 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Heather J Lynch
- Institute for Advanced Computational Sciences, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicols Road, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; Department of Ecology & Evolution, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicols Road, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodríguez Y, Rodríguez A, van Loon WMGM, Pereira JM, Frias J, Duncan EM, Garcia S, Herrera L, Marqués C, Neves V, Domínguez-Hernández C, Hernández-Borges J, Rodríguez B, Pham CK. Cory's shearwater as a key bioindicator for monitoring floating plastics. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108595. [PMID: 38552271 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The potential of using organisms as bioindicators of marine litter has been an area of general interest in multiple scientific and monitoring programs across the globe. Procellariiformes seabirds are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination, which makes them a research focus group. This study investigated plastic ingestion in deceased fledglings and adults Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) collected over eight years (2015 to 2022) at two Atlantic archipelagos: the Azores and the Canaries. Necropsies were carried out in a total of 1,238 individuals showing a high prevalence of plastic ingestion (90%), with approximately 80% of items recovered from the gizzard. Fledglings carried greater plastic loads compared to adults, yet plastic morphologies were similar between both age classes. The temporal analyses conducted with generalised additive mixed-effect models revealed a distinct temporal trend in plastic numbers, but not in terms of plastic mass. In addition, the spatial analyses showed that Cory's shearwaters from the Canary Islands ingest a higher quantity of plastic and a greater proportion of threadlike items than the Azorean birds. These results suggest higher contamination at the NW Africa foraging grounds next to the Canaries and highlight fisheries as a potential source of marine litter in that region. On the other hand, the information gathered from the Azorean birds suggests they would be able to monitor changes in the composition of the plastic items floating in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. Overall, our outcomes support the use of Cory's shearwater fledglings that are victims of light pollution as a key bioindicator of plastic contamination in the North Atlantic. For its policy application, the presented threshold value in combination with the assessment method will enable effective tracking of floating plastic litter in the framework of the MSFD and OSPAR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasmina Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, 9900-138 HORTA, Portugal.
| | - Airam Rodríguez
- Canary Islands' Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), Buenavista del Norte, Canary Islands, Spain; Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN), CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Willem M G M van Loon
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Zuiderwagenplein 2, 8224 AD Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - João M Pereira
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, 9900-138 HORTA, Portugal
| | - João Frias
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Old Dublin Rd., Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Emily M Duncan
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Garcia
- Direção Regional de Políticas Marítimas, Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas, Colónia Alemã - Apartado 9, 9900-014 Horta, Portugal
| | - Laura Herrera
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, 9900-138 HORTA, Portugal
| | - Cristina Marqués
- Canary Islands' Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), Buenavista del Norte, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Verónica Neves
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, 9900-138 HORTA, Portugal
| | - Cristopher Domínguez-Hernández
- Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n. 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n. 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Javier Hernández-Borges
- Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n. 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n. 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Beneharo Rodríguez
- Canary Islands' Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), Buenavista del Norte, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Christopher K Pham
- Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar - OKEANOS, Universidade dos Açores, 9900-138 HORTA, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Puskic PS, Slocombe R, Ploeg R, Roman L, Lea MA, Hutton I, Bridle AR. Exploring the pathology of liver, kidney, muscle, and stomach of fledgling seabirds associated with plastic ingestion. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133306. [PMID: 38147759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
There remain significant gaps in knowledge about 'sub-lethal' impacts of plastic ingestion, particularly chronic impacts on cells, tissues, or organs. Few studies have applied traditional animal health tools, such as histopathology, to assess physiological damage to wildlife, with fewer still providing information on the dosage or exposure to plastics needed to elicit negative effects. Our study seeks to investigate a common hypothesis in plastic pollution research; that an increasing plastics burden will have an impact on an animal's health, examining two wild species with high levels of environmental exposure to plastic through their diet. Here we assess the histopathology of the muscle, upper digestive tract, liver and kidney of two seabird species that are known to be commonly exposed to plastic, comparing exposed and non-exposed individuals. Fledgling seabirds showed histopathological evidence of cumulative pressures such as starvation, disease, and endoparasite burden. However, we observed no evidence of chronic harm that could be explicitly linked to the plastics. We found one case of haemorrhage, reaffirming that large/sharp plastic foreign bodies may cause acute physical damage. Given the numerous interacting pressures on the health of fledging seabirds, including exposure to plastic, this study highlights the need to scrutinise plastic-animal interactions and research though a One Health lens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Puskic
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Centre for Marine Sociology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Ron Slocombe
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard Ploeg
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Roman
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; CSIRO Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Mary-Anne Lea
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Centre for Marine Sociology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ian Hutton
- Lord Howe Island Museum, Lord Howe Island, Australia
| | - Andrew R Bridle
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baes L, Santiago CD, Roman L, Dos Santos Costa PC, Pugliesi É, Reigada C. Beached seabirds as plastic biomonitors in Brazil from the Beach Monitoring Project of the Santos Basin (PMP-BS). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115847. [PMID: 38181467 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Bioindicator species are useful to monitor wildlife exposure to plastic pollution, and responses to plastic leakage and policy interventions. Here we explore the biomonitoring potential of different seabird and shorebirds species across six years of monitoring in Brazil. Using the necropsy stranding database of the Beach Monitoring Project of the Santos Basin (PMP-BS), we evaluated i) the frequency of birds-plastic interactions in Brazil; ii) whether plastic interactions have changed through time and in different coastal regions; and iii) potential bioindicators for monitoring the exposure of seabirds to plastic in the nearshore South Atlantic Ocean. We found 37 species that had ingested plastic, including ten new records, found that the rates of tube-nosed seabirds increased through time, and suggested two potential species. We discuss the potential for biomonitoring marine pollution in the South Atlantic Ocean using PMP-BS, providing a scheme for a better plastic pollution monitoring in Brazil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Baes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Washington Luiz, s/n - Monjolinho, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil; Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia, Av. Nina, 523 - Bairro Retiro das Caravelas, Cananéia, SP 11990-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Interações, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luiz, s/n - Monjolinho, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil.
| | - Cristine Diniz Santiago
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Washington Luiz, s/n - Monjolinho, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Lauren Roman
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania 7004, Australia; CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, 3-4 Castray Esp, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania 7004, Australia
| | - Priscilla Carla Dos Santos Costa
- Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia, Av. Nina, 523 - Bairro Retiro das Caravelas, Cananéia, SP 11990-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Silvestres FMVZ/USP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária "Armando Salles de Oliveira", São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Érica Pugliesi
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Washington Luiz, s/n - Monjolinho, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Carolina Reigada
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Interações, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, Rod. Washington Luiz, s/n - Monjolinho, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Murphy EL, Gerber LR, Rochman CM, Polidoro B. A macroplastic vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai'i. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168247. [PMID: 37918749 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is having devastating consequences for marine organisms across the planet. However, the population level effects of macroplastic pollution remain difficult and costly to quantify. As a result, there is a need for alternative approaches to evaluate species risk to plastic pollution and inform management needs. We apply a trait-based framework for macroplastic pollution to develop a relative vulnerability index-informed by three dimensions: likelihood of exposure, species' sensitivity, and population resilience-for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles found in Hawai'i. This index ranks 63 study species based on their population level vulnerability to macroplastic pollution, with the highest scoring species being the most vulnerable. Our results indicate that ducks, waders, and noddies with large populations were the least vulnerable to macroplastics, while the most vulnerable were the Hawaiian monk seal, sea turtles, baleen whales, and some albatross and petrel species. This index can inform species in need of population monitoring in Hawai'i, and direct other management priorities (e.g., locations for clean-ups or booms). More broadly, this work exemplifies the value of qualitative risk assessment approaches for better understanding the population level effects of macroplastic pollution and showcases how vulnerability indices can be used to inform management priorities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Murphy
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe Campus, Life Sciences Center A Wing 451 E Tyler Mall, Room 209, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe Camus, Life Sciences Center A Wing 451 E Tyler Mall, Room 351, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks St, Earth Sciences, Room 3054, Toronto, ON M5S3B2, Canada.
| | - Leah R Gerber
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe Campus, Life Sciences Center A Wing 451 E Tyler Mall, Room 209, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe Camus, Life Sciences Center A Wing 451 E Tyler Mall, Room 351, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Wilcocks St, Earth Sciences, Room 3054, Toronto, ON M5S3B2, Canada
| | - Beth Polidoro
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe Campus, Life Sciences Center A Wing 451 E Tyler Mall, Room 209, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Arizona State University, Tempe Camus, Life Sciences Center A Wing 451 E Tyler Mall, Room 351, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States of America; School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, West Campus, PO Box 37100, Phoenix, AZ 85069-2352, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Athira TR, Aarif KM, Thomas JA, Alatawi AS, Muzaffar SB, Nefla A, Reshi OR, Jobiraj T, Thejass P. The threat of microplastics: Exploring pollution in coastal ecosystems and migratory shorebirds along the west coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115912. [PMID: 38113815 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the exposure risk and ingestion of microplastics by migratory shorebirds, which are regarded as apex predators in the coastal ecosystem, this study investigated the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in estuarine and coastal habitats and their potential to be transferred in the food chains. We analysed the presence of microplastics in water, sediment, major macroinvertebrate prey and the guano samples of ten shorebird species from ten important wintering grounds in the west coast of India. Our results revealed that water is the primary source through which microplastics disseminate into various ecosystem components. Microplastic debris in various forms were reported in all samples analysed, with microfibres being the most abundant form. While polyethylene and polypropylene were found as the major microplastic types in water, sediment, and prey samples, polystyrene was most abundant in guano samples. Microplastic transfer and impacts in this delicate ecosystem demand further investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T R Athira
- Department of Zoology, Government College, Madappally, Affiliated to University of Calicut, Kozhikode, 670 645, Kerala, India.
| | - K M Aarif
- Terrestrial Ecology, Centre for Environment and Marine Studies, Research & Innovation, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Jeniffer Ann Thomas
- Department of Zoology, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam, University of Kerala, 691001, India
| | - Abdulaziz S Alatawi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabir Bin Muzaffar
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Department of Science, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Aymen Nefla
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar II, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Omer R Reshi
- Sustainability, Centre for Environment and Marine Studies, Research & Innovation, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - T Jobiraj
- Department of Zoology, Govt College, Kodanchery, Kozhikode, 673580, Affiliated to University of Calicut, Kerala, India
| | - P Thejass
- Department of Zoology, Government College, Madappally, Affiliated to University of Calicut, Kozhikode, 670 645, Kerala, India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Matos DM, Ramos JA, Bessa F, Silva V, Rodrigues I, Antunes S, Dos Santos I, Coentro J, Brandão ALC, Batista de Carvalho LAE, Marques MPM, Santos S, Paiva VH. Anthropogenic debris ingestion in a tropical seabird community: Insights from taxonomy and foraging distribution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165437. [PMID: 37437636 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Oceans have been considered as an unlimited supply of goods and services, but resource extraction and waste disposal became ubiquitous and have been damaging the health of marine ecosystems. Finding suitable sentinel species of the human impacts on the oceans is thus imperative, since they may work as early warnings of disruptive situations. In this study, we investigated how taxonomy and foraging distribution influenced the occurrence of anthropogenic debris among five seabird species inhabiting the tropical Atlantic region. Occurrence of anthropogenic debris was assessed using faeces of breeding individuals as a proxy of ingestion. A total of 268 particles were extracted from all samples. The categories "fragments" and "fibres", as well as the colour "blue", were the most prevalent characteristics across species. There was a high diversity of polymers from cellulosic particles to synthetic plastics (Anthropogenic Cellulosic 26.9 %; Polyester 7.7 %; Varnish 5.8 %; Polypropylene 1.9 %). Species with a more coastal foraging strategy exhibited higher occurrence and number of anthropogenic debris when compared to species foraging comparably more in pelagic areas. This suggests that anthropogenic debris are more prevalent in coastal foraging areas, where human activities occur in higher number and frequency (e.g., fisheries) and sources of freshwater input from inland are at close distance. These results provide more evidence to the growing perception on the ubiquity and diversity of anthropogenic debris in the marine environment, and further support the usefulness of using seabirds as bio-indicators of anthropogenic pollution in both neritic and oceanic regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D M Matos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - J A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filipa Bessa
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vítor Silva
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Rodrigues
- Biosfera Cabo Verde, Sul do Cemitério, Rua 5 - Caixa Postal 233, São Vicente, Cabo Verde
| | - Stefan Antunes
- Biosfera Cabo Verde, Sul do Cemitério, Rua 5 - Caixa Postal 233, São Vicente, Cabo Verde
| | - I Dos Santos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Coentro
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - A L C Brandão
- University of Coimbra, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - L A E Batista de Carvalho
- University of Coimbra, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M P M Marques
- University of Coimbra, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, Department of Chemistry, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sara Santos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - V H Paiva
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kim M, Hong MJ, Nam KB, Kim YM, Park CU, Kwon Y. Marine debris ingestion by adults and fledglings of Swinhoe's storm petrels in the Republic of Korea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115330. [PMID: 37506494 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Procellariiformes are highly vulnerable to marine plastic pollution due to their species-specific life histories. In particular, storm petrels are known to be one of the most vulnerable species with respect to plastic ingestion. In this study, we examined the plastic ingestion by adults and fledglings of Swinhoe's storm petrels on Chilbal Island, one of the largest breeding colonies for this species. During 2013 and 2014, we collected adult and fledgling carcasses and analyzed their stomach contents. The results showed that both adults and juveniles were consuming mostly plastics. Most of the collected Swhinhoe's storm petrels were consuming microplastic, with juveniles consuming a higher average amount of plastic than adults. The type of plastic ingested was more threadlike in adults and fragments in juveniles. In conclusion, the characteristics of ingested plastics differed between adults and juveniles, suggesting that analyzing individual age may be important for monitoring plastic ingestion in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miran Kim
- Seabirds Lab. of Korea, Wonju-si, Gangwon Self-Governing Province 26352, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Jin Hong
- Seabirds Lab. of Korea, Wonju-si, Gangwon Self-Governing Province 26352, Republic of Korea; Korea Institute of Ornithology & Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Baek Nam
- Korea Institute of Ornithology & Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yang-Mo Kim
- Korea National Park Research Institute, Korea National Park Service, Wonju-si, Gangwon Self-Governing Province 26411, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Uk Park
- Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 63243, Republic of Korea; World Heritage Division, Shinan County Office, Shinan-gun, Jeollanamdo 58827, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsoo Kwon
- Korea National Park Research Institute, Korea National Park Service, Wonju-si, Gangwon Self-Governing Province 26411, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pon JPS, Álvarez VA, Nicolini AT, Rosenthal AF, García GO. Ingestion of marine debris by juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in wintering grounds of coastal Argentina. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115247. [PMID: 37421918 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of marine debris in the stomach contents of young male and female Spheniscus magellanicus stranded along the Atlantic coast of northern Argentina during its post-breeding exodus is reported for the first time. Marine debris was found in 15.5 % of 148 dead penguins, with a higher proportion of debris found in females when compared to males. A total of 81 debris items was recorded; plastic and paper each contributed with an equal number of debris whereas rubber contributed with a single item. Chemical identification performed using FTIR/ATR revealed that plastic items were largely LDPE and PA; other polymers included HDPE, PP and PS. The average length of fragmented plastic debris are in line with those reported from penguins stranded along the southern Brazilian coasts. Our study indicates that loads of ingested marine debris were roughly five times lower when compared to the estimates for the species in Brazilian beaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Seco Pon
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-CONICET, Rodríguez Peña 4046, nivel 1 (B7602GSD), Argentina.
| | - Vera Alejandra Álvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (INTEMA), CONICET, Av. Colón 10850 (B7600XAJ), Argentina
| | - Andrés Torres Nicolini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (INTEMA), CONICET, Av. Colón 10850 (B7600XAJ), Argentina
| | | | - Germán Oscar García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-CONICET, Rodríguez Peña 4046, nivel 1 (B7602GSD), Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Clark BL, Carneiro APB, Pearmain EJ, Rouyer MM, Clay TA, Cowger W, Phillips RA, Manica A, Hazin C, Eriksen M, González-Solís J, Adams J, Albores-Barajas YV, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Alho MS, Araujo DT, Arcos JM, Arnould JPY, Barbosa NJP, Barbraud C, Beard AM, Beck J, Bell EA, Bennet DG, Berlincourt M, Biscoito M, Bjørnstad OK, Bolton M, Booth Jones KA, Borg JJ, Bourgeois K, Bretagnolle V, Bried J, Briskie JV, Brooke MDL, Brownlie KC, Bugoni L, Calabrese L, Campioni L, Carey MJ, Carle RD, Carlile N, Carreiro AR, Catry P, Catry T, Cecere JG, Ceia FR, Cherel Y, Choi CY, Cianchetti-Benedetti M, Clarke RH, Cleeland JB, Colodro V, Congdon BC, Danielsen J, De Pascalis F, Deakin Z, Dehnhard N, Dell'Omo G, Delord K, Descamps S, Dilley BJ, Dinis HA, Dubos J, Dunphy BJ, Emmerson LM, Fagundes AI, Fayet AL, Felis JJ, Fischer JH, Freeman AND, Fromant A, Gaibani G, García D, Gjerdrum C, Gomes ISGC, Forero MG, Granadeiro JP, Grecian WJ, Grémillet D, Guilford T, Hallgrimsson GT, Halpin LR, Hansen ES, Hedd A, Helberg M, Helgason HH, Henry LM, Hereward HFR, Hernandez-Montero M, Hindell MA, Hodum PJ, Imperio S, Jaeger A, Jessopp M, Jodice PGR, Jones CG, Jones CW, Jónsson JE, Kane A, Kapelj S, Kim Y, Kirk H, Kolbeinsson Y, Kraemer PL, Krüger L, Lago P, Landers TJ, Lavers JL, Le Corre M, Leal A, Louzao M, Madeiros J, Magalhães M, Mallory ML, Masello JF, Massa B, Matsumoto S, McDuie F, McFarlane Tranquilla L, Medrano F, Metzger BJ, Militão T, Montevecchi WA, Montone RC, Navarro-Herrero L, Neves VC, Nicholls DG, Nicoll MAC, Norris K, Oppel S, Oro D, Owen E, Padget O, Paiva VH, Pala D, Pereira JM, Péron C, Petry MV, de Pina A, Pina ATM, Pinet P, Pistorius PA, Pollet IL, Porter BJ, Poupart TA, Powell CDL, Proaño CB, Pujol-Casado J, Quillfeldt P, Quinn JL, Raine AF, Raine H, Ramírez I, Ramos JA, Ramos R, Ravache A, Rayner MJ, Reid TA, Robertson GJ, Rocamora GJ, Rollinson DP, Ronconi RA, Rotger A, Rubolini D, Ruhomaun K, Ruiz A, Russell JC, Ryan PG, Saldanha S, Sanz-Aguilar A, Sardà-Serra M, Satgé YG, Sato K, Schäfer WC, Schoombie S, Shaffer SA, Shah N, Shoji A, Shutler D, Sigurðsson IA, Silva MC, Small AE, Soldatini C, Strøm H, Surman CA, Takahashi A, Tatayah VRV, Taylor GA, Thomas RJ, Thompson DR, Thompson PM, Thórarinsson TL, Vicente-Sastre D, Vidal E, Wakefield ED, Waugh SM, Weimerskirch H, Wittmer HU, Yamamoto T, Yoda K, Zavalaga CB, Zino FJ, Dias MP. Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3665. [PMID: 37402727 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38900-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is distributed patchily around the world's oceans. Likewise, marine organisms that are vulnerable to plastic ingestion or entanglement have uneven distributions. Understanding where wildlife encounters plastic is crucial for targeting research and mitigation. Oceanic seabirds, particularly petrels, frequently ingest plastic, are highly threatened, and cover vast distances during foraging and migration. However, the spatial overlap between petrels and plastics is poorly understood. Here we combine marine plastic density estimates with individual movement data for 7137 birds of 77 petrel species to estimate relative exposure risk. We identify high exposure risk areas in the Mediterranean and Black seas, and the northeast Pacific, northwest Pacific, South Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans. Plastic exposure risk varies greatly among species and populations, and between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Exposure risk is disproportionately high for Threatened species. Outside the Mediterranean and Black seas, exposure risk is highest in the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the USA, Japan, and the UK. Birds generally had higher plastic exposure risk outside the EEZ of the country where they breed. We identify conservation and research priorities, and highlight that international collaboration is key to addressing the impacts of marine plastic on wide-ranging species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth J Pearmain
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Thomas A Clay
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- People and Nature, Environmental Defense Fund, Monterey, CA, USA
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Win Cowger
- University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Richard A Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrea Manica
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carolina Hazin
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK
- The Nature Conservancy, London, UK
| | | | - Jacob González-Solís
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josh Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Cruz Field Station, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Yuri V Albores-Barajas
- Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur - UABCS, La Paz, Mexico
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto
- Carrera de Biologia Marina, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru
- ProDelphinus, Lima, Peru
- University of Exeter, School of Biosciences, Cornwall Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - Maria Saldanha Alho
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Ispa - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Annalea M Beard
- St. Helena Government, Jamestown, St. Helena, UK
- Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jessie Beck
- Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Della G Bennet
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - Manuel Biscoito
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Museu de História Natural do Funchal, Funchal, Portugal
| | | | - Mark Bolton
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - John J Borg
- National Museum of Natural History, Mdina, Malta
| | - Karen Bourgeois
- 3 Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Nouméa, New Caledonia, France
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Joël Bried
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9901-862, Horta, Portugal
| | - James V Briskie
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - M de L Brooke
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Leandro Bugoni
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Licia Calabrese
- Island Conservation Society, Mahé, Seychelles
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
- Island Biodiversity and Conservation Centre, University of Seychelles, Anse Royale, Seychelles
| | - Letizia Campioni
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Ispa - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mark J Carey
- Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, La Trobe University, Wodonga, NSW, Australia
| | - Ryan D Carle
- Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Carlile
- Science, Economics and Insights Division, Department of Planning and Environment, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ana R Carreiro
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Fornelo e Vairão, Portugal
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Ispa - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Teresa Catry
- CESAM - Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jacopo G Cecere
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - Filipe R Ceia
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Chang-Yong Choi
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Bioresources, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Rohan H Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jaimie B Cleeland
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS, Australia
| | | | - Bradley C Congdon
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | | | - Federico De Pascalis
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Zoe Deakin
- Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nina Dehnhard
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Karine Delord
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - Ben J Dilley
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Jerome Dubos
- UMR ENTROPIE, Université de la Réunion, Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
| | - Brendon J Dunphy
- Institute of Marine Sciences/School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Annette L Fayet
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jonathan J Felis
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Cruz Field Station, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- United States Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Johannes H Fischer
- Island Conservation Society, Mahé, Seychelles
- Aquatic Unit, Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Aymeric Fromant
- Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | | | - David García
- Iniciativa de Recerca de la Biodiversitat de les Illes (IRBI), Pina, Spain
| | - Carina Gjerdrum
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Manuela G Forero
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - José P Granadeiro
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa & CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - David Grémillet
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tim Guilford
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Luke R Halpin
- Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Halpin Wildlife Research, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - April Hedd
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, NC, Canada
| | - Morten Helberg
- Østfold University College, Halden, Norway
- BirdLife Norway, Sandgata 30 B, 7012, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | | | - Hannah F R Hereward
- Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- British Trust for Ornithology Cymru, Thoday Building, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Wales, UK
| | | | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Simona Imperio
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Audrey Jaeger
- UMR ENTROPIE, Université de la Réunion, Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
| | - Mark Jessopp
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Patrick G R Jodice
- U.S. Geological Survey South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Carl G Jones
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Vacoas, Mauritius
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Trinity, Jersey
| | - Christopher W Jones
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jón Einar Jónsson
- University of Iceland's Research Center at Snæfellsnes, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Adam Kane
- University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Yuna Kim
- Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Philipp L Kraemer
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Lucas Krüger
- Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile
- Instituto Milénio Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y Subantárticos (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulo Lago
- SEO/BirdLife, Barcelona, Spain
- BirdLife Malta, Ta' Xbiex, Malta
| | - Todd J Landers
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, Esperance, WA, Australia
| | - Matthieu Le Corre
- UMR ENTROPIE, Université de la Réunion, Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
| | - Andreia Leal
- Associação Projecto Vitó, São Filipe, Cabo Verde
| | | | - Jeremy Madeiros
- Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Bermuda Government, Flatts, Bermuda
| | - Maria Magalhães
- Regional Directorate for Marine Policies, Azores Government, Horta, Azores, Portugal
| | | | - Juan F Masello
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Bruno Massa
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Fiona McDuie
- San Jose State University Research Foundation, San Jose, CA, USA
| | | | - Fernando Medrano
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Teresa Militão
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Leia Navarro-Herrero
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verónica C Neves
- Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores, 9901-862, Horta, Portugal
- IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Oro
- CEAB-CSIC, Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Blanes, Spain
| | - Ellie Owen
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Inverness, UK
- The National Trust for Scotland, Balnain House, Huntly Street, Inverness, UK
| | - Oliver Padget
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vítor H Paiva
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - David Pala
- Parco naturale Regionale di Porto Conte, Alghero, Italy
| | - Jorge M Pereira
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Clara Péron
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (UMR BOREA) - Muséum national d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA, Paris, France
| | - Maria V Petry
- Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos - UNISINOS, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Patrick Pinet
- Université de La Réunion, Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
| | - Pierre A Pistorius
- Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | | - Carolina B Proaño
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
| | - Júlia Pujol-Casado
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - John L Quinn
- School of BEES, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Andre F Raine
- Archipelago Research and Conservation, Kalaheo, HI, USA
| | - Helen Raine
- Archipelago Research and Conservation, Kalaheo, HI, USA
| | - Iván Ramírez
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jaime A Ramos
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Raül Ramos
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreas Ravache
- UMR ENTROPIE (IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer), Centre IRD Nouméa, Nouméa, New Caledonia, France
| | | | | | | | - Gerard J Rocamora
- Island Conservation Society, Mahé, Seychelles
- Island Biodiversity and Conservation Centre, University of Seychelles, Anse Royale, Seychelles
| | - Dominic P Rollinson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert A Ronconi
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Andreu Rotger
- Animal Demography and Ecology Unit (GEDA), IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IRSA-CNR), Brugherio, Italy
| | - Kevin Ruhomaun
- National Parks and Parks Conservation Service, Reduit, Mauritius
| | | | - James C Russell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sarah Saldanha
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Sanz-Aguilar
- Animal Demography and Ecology Unit (GEDA), IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
- University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Mariona Sardà-Serra
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yvan G Satgé
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Katsufumi Sato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Japan
| | - Wiebke C Schäfer
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Stefan Schoombie
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Scott A Shaffer
- Biological Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Mónica C Silva
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Evolutionary Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Cecilia Soldatini
- CICESE - Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada - Unidad La Paz, La Paz, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David R Thompson
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Diego Vicente-Sastre
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric Vidal
- UMR ENTROPIE (IRD, UR, UNC, CNRS, IFREMER), Nouméa, New Caledonia, France
- UMR IMBE (IRD, AMU, CNRS, UAPV), Nouméa, France
| | | | | | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Heiko U Wittmer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | | | - Maria P Dias
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Evolutionary Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Schutten K, Chandrashekar A, Bourdages M, Bowes V, Elliott J, Lee S, Redford T, Provencher J, Jardine C, Wilson L. Assessing plastic ingestion in birds of prey from British Columbia, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:76631-76639. [PMID: 37243770 PMCID: PMC10300153 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27830-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Since first being introduced for public use in the 1960s, plastic has become one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous forms of pollution globally. The potential fate and effects of plastic pollution on birds is a rapidly growing area of research, but knowledge of terrestrial and freshwater species is limited. Birds of prey have been particularly understudied, with no published data on plastic ingestion in raptors in Canada to date, and very few studies globally. To assess the ingestion of plastic in raptors, we analysed the contents of the upper gastrointestinal tracts from a total of 234 individuals across 15 raptor species, collected between 2013 and 2021. Upper gastrointestinal tracts were assessed for plastics and anthropogenic particles > 2 mm in size. Of the 234 specimens examined, only five individuals across two species had evidence of retained anthropogenic particles in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Two of 33 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, 6.1%) had retained plastics in the gizzard, while three of 108 barred owls (Strix varia, 2.8%) had retained plastic and non-plastic anthropogenic litter. The remaining 13 species were negative for particles > 2 mm in size (N = 1-25). These results suggest that most hunting raptor species do not appear to ingest and retain larger anthropogenic particles, though foraging guild and habitat may influence risk. We recommend that future research investigate microplastic accumulation in raptors, in order to gain a more holistic understanding of plastic ingestion in these species. Future work should also focus on increasing sample sizes across all species to improve the ability to assess landscape- and species-level factors that influence vulnerability and susceptibility of plastic pollution ingestion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Schutten
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Akshaya Chandrashekar
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Victoria Bowes
- Government of British Columbia, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John Elliott
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sandi Lee
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Tony Redford
- Government of British Columbia, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Claire Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Laurie Wilson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Diaz-Santibañez I, Clark BL, Zavalaga CB. Guanay cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) pellets as an indicator of marine plastic pollution along the Peruvian coast. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115104. [PMID: 37301006 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution affects many taxa worldwide, and monitoring is crucial for understanding its impacts, particularly where plastic reaches threatened species or those destined for human consumption. This study evaluates plastic ingestion in Near Threatened guanay cormorants (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum), which catch prey that are also targeted by fisheries, through pellet analysis at ten locations in Peru. Plastic occurred in 162 (7.08 %) of 2286 pellets, consisting of mainly user plastics, including 5 % between mega or macro (>20 mm), 23 % meso (5-20 mm), 67 % micro (1-5 mm) plastics and 5 % ultrafine (1 μm-1 mm). We found significantly higher percentages occurrence of plastic for colonies close to more river mouths. Our results show that seabird pellet sampling is a useful tool for monitoring marine plastic pollution in Peru.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Diaz-Santibañez
- Unidad de Investigación de Ecosistemas Marinos - Grupo de Aves Marinas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Car. Antigua Panamericana Sur Km. 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru; Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Car. Antigua Panamericana Sur Km. 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Bethany L Clark
- BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK; University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Carlos B Zavalaga
- Unidad de Investigación de Ecosistemas Marinos - Grupo de Aves Marinas, Universidad Científica del Sur, Car. Antigua Panamericana Sur Km. 19, Villa El Salvador, Lima, Peru.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Nascimento LOD, Barreto J, de Oliveira Gomes LE, Bomfim LNS, Martins AS. Solid waste ingestion by marine megafauna on Southeast Brazilian coast. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114821. [PMID: 36948063 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The disparities in the ecology and behavior of marine megafauna may influence their susceptibility to solid waste ingestion; however, this relationship has been underestimated along the Brazilian coast. We analyzed a dataset of 7261 marine megafauna (45 species) necropsied to investigate the influence of their foraging strategies on solid waste ingestion. A total of 1240 specimens ingested solid waste with over 55 % (689) that ingested plastic. Sea turtles were the most impacted taxa, while cetaceans present the lowest frequency. Some characteristics such as regurgitation (e.g., Suliformes and Charadriiformes seabirds) or possess complex foraging strategies (e.g., cetaceans echolocation) may mitigate the negative effects of solid waste ingestion. Also, the variability over the monitoring program likely was influenced by the volume of pollutants transported to the ocean during flood periods, and level of staff training. This study serves as a valuable baseline for solid waste management actions and marine megafauna conservation efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Oliveira do Nascimento
- Laboratório de Nectologia, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil; Laboratório de Etnoconservação e Áreas Protegidas, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Jorge Amado Km 16, Salobrindo, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brazil.
| | - Jonathas Barreto
- Laboratório de Nectologia, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira Gomes
- Manglare Ambiental, Av. Luiz Manoel Vellozo, 635, Jardim da Penha, Vitória, ES, 29060-040, Brazil; ONG Guardiões do Mar, Rua Alfredo Azamor, 739, Boa Vista, São Gonçalo, RJ, 24466-000, Brazil
| | - Lyla Narah Strino Bomfim
- Laboratório de Nectologia, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Agnaldo Silva Martins
- Laboratório de Nectologia, Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Monteiro R, Andrades R, Noleto-Filho E, Pegado T, Morais L, Gonçalves M, Santos R, Sbrana A, Franceschini S, Soares MO, Russo T, Giarrizzo T. GLOVE: The Global Plastic Ingestion Initiative for a cleaner world. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114244. [PMID: 36283155 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are one of the most used materials in the world. Their indiscriminate use and inappropriate disposal have led to inevitable impacts, for instance ingestion, on the environment arousing the attention of the global community. In addition, plastic ingestion studies are often written in scientific jargon or hidden behind paywalls, which makes these studies inaccessible. GLOVE is an online and open-access dashboard database available at gloveinitiative.shinyapps.io/Glove/ to support scientists, decision-makers, and society with information collected from plastic ingestion studies. The platform was created in the R environment, with a web interface developed through Shiny. It already comprises 530 studies, including all biological groups, with 245,366 individual records of 1458 species found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. The main goal of the GLOVE dashboard database is to improve data accessibility by being a scientifically useful grounded tool for designing effective and innovative actions in the current scenario of upcoming global and local agreements and actions on plastic pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raqueline Monteiro
- Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia and Grupo de Ecologia Aquática, Universidade Federal do Pará, 2651 Avenida Perimetral, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
| | - Ryan Andrades
- Laboratório de Ictiologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Goiabeiras, 29075-910 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | | | - Tamyris Pegado
- Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática E Pesca da Amazônia and Laboratório de Biologia Pesqueira e Manejo dos Recursos Aquáticos, Grupo de Ecologia Aquática, Universidade Federal do Pará, 2651 Avenida Perimetral, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Morais
- Laboratório de Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa s/n, Guamá, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Myckey Gonçalves
- Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia (NEAP), Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Robson Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Marinha e Conservação, UniversidadeFederal de Alagoas, Cidade Universitária, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Alice Sbrana
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Simone Franceschini
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, United States of America
| | - Marcelo O Soares
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE 60165-081, Brazil; Reef Systems Research Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Laboratory of Experimental Ecology and Aquaculture, Dept. of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Tommaso Giarrizzo
- Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia and Grupo de Ecologia Aquática, Universidade Federal do Pará, 2651 Avenida Perimetral, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição 3207, Fortaleza, CE 60165-081, Brazil; Grupo de Ecologia Aquática, Espaço Inovação do Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia do Guamá, Belém, PA, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Robuck AR, Hudak CA, Agvent L, Emery G, Ryan PG, Perold VA, Powers KD, Pedersen J, Thompson MA, Suca JJ, Moore MJ, Harms C, Bugoni L, Shield G, Glass T, Wiley DN, Lohmann R. Birds of a feather eat plastic together: high levels of plastic ingestion in Great Shearwater adults and juveniles across their annual migratory cycle. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE 2022; 8:719721. [PMID: 36248700 PMCID: PMC9558492 DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.719721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Limited work to date has examined plastic ingestion in highly migratory seabirds like Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis) across the their entire migratory range, although this species is prone to ingest plastic as a wide-ranging procellariiform. We examined 217 Great Shearwaters obtained from 2008-2019 at multiple locations spanning their yearly migration cycle across the Northwest and South Atlantic to assess accumulation of ingested plastic as well as trends over time and between locations. A total of 2,328 plastic fragments were documented in the ventriculus portion of the gastrointestinal tract, with an average of 9 plastic fragments per bird. The mass, count, and frequency of plastic occurrence (FO) varied by location, with higher plastic burdens but lower FO in South Atlantic individuals from the breeding colonies. No fragments of the same size or morphology were found in the primary forage fish prey, the sand lance, (Ammodytes spp., n = 202) that supports Great Shearwaters in Massachusetts Bay, USA, suggesting the birds directly ingest the bulk of their plastic loads rather than accumulating via trophic transfer. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that low- and high-density polyethylene were the most common polymers ingested, within all years and locations. Individuals from the South Atlantic contained a higher proportion of larger plastic items and fragments compared to juveniles and non-breeding adults from the NW Atlantic, possibly due to increased use of remote, pelagic areas subject to reduced inputs of smaller, more diverse, and potentially less buoyant plastics found adjacent to coastal margins. Different signatures of polymer type, size, and category between similar life stages at different locations suggests rapid turnover of ingested plastics commensurate with migratory stage and location, though more empirical evidence is needed to ground-truth this hypothesis. This work is the first to comprehensively measure the accumulation of ingested plastics by Great Shearwaters over the last decade and across multiple locations spanning their yearly trans-equatorial migration cycle, and underscores their utility as sentinels of plastic pollution in Atlantic ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Robuck
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | | | - Lindsay Agvent
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - Gwenyth Emery
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - Peter G. Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Vonica A. Perold
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kevin D. Powers
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Scituate, MA 02066, USA
| | | | - Michael A. Thompson
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Scituate, MA 02066, USA
| | - Justin J. Suca
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, MA 02540, USA
| | | | - Craig Harms
- Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA
| | - Leandro Bugoni
- Waterbirds and Sea Turtles Lab, Unviersidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Gina Shield
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - Trevor Glass
- Conservation Department, Government of Tristan da Cunha, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Tristan da Cunha TDCU 1ZZ, UK (South Atlantic Ocean)
| | - David N. Wiley
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Scituate, MA 02066, USA
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Blettler MCM, Mitchell C. Dangerous traps: Macroplastic encounters affecting freshwater and terrestrial wildlife. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 798:149317. [PMID: 34340071 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Encounters (or interactions) between plastic debris and wildlife can cause great harm to individuals and populations. The most common encounters are ingestion, entanglement and plastic usage (plastic as nesting material, vector for biota transport and refuge/shelter). Hundreds of plastic-encounters have been reported for marine species. However, there is a lack of studies reporting encounters in other ecosystems, such as freshwater and terrestrial ones. Based on a citizen science approach, we documented and analyzed 90 different cases of macroplastic-fauna encounters for 44 freshwater and terrestrial species. Herein, we provided evidence (photographically documented) of the negative consequences of macroplastic debris discarded in freshwater and terrestrial environments. Birds were by far the taxon most frequently reported in encounters (72.2% of the encounters, 30 different species). The dominant type of plastic-fauna encounter was the use of plastic as nesting material (42% of the total cases) and the second one was entanglement (33%). Most of the entanglements had lethal consequences for the organisms involved (almost 60%). Entanglement in ghost fishing gear and bottle (security) rings were particularly dangerous and comparatively frequent in this study. Some invasive species could benefit from the encounters to the detriment of the environment's health, using plastics as settlement substrata. Finally, we lay the foundation for creating worldwide lists of non-marine species impacted by encounters with plastic debris.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martín C M Blettler
- The National Institute of Limnology (INALI; CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Clara Mitchell
- Faculty of Exact Sciences, Engineering and Surveying National University of Rosario (FCEIA, UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Morkūnas J, Biveinytė V, Balčiūnas A, Morkūnė R. The broader isotopic niche of Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis implies a higher risk of ingesting plastic and non-plastic debris than for other diving seabirds. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113065. [PMID: 34741923 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the first data relating to debris ingestion by diving seabirds wintering in the south-eastern Baltic Sea, sets baselines for further studies and presents the first global record of plastic ingestion in Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). Three of the six studied seabird species, and 2.1% of all 524 examined individuals collected from fishery bycatch, had ingested marine debris. Frequency of ingestion of Long-tailed Duck, Common Murre (Uria aalge) and Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) were 5.0%, 4.5% and 3.0% debris respectively, dominated by plastic objects. Providing detailed information about the studied individuals and the debris, this initiates discussion about diving birds' sensitivity to marine debris - it may depend on the feeding preferences of the birds, expressed as isotopic niches in this paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julius Morkūnas
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Universiteto av.17, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania.
| | - Veronika Biveinytė
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Universiteto av.17, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - Arūnas Balčiūnas
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Universiteto av.17, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Morkūnė
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Universiteto av.17, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Vanstreels RET, Gallo L, Serafini PP, Santos AP, Egert L, Uhart MM. Ingestion of plastics and other debris by coastal and pelagic birds along the coast of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113046. [PMID: 34673429 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although the ingestion of plastics and other anthropogenic debris by seabirds is a global problem, few studies have employed standardized protocols to quantify and classify the debris ingested by seabirds in the Southwest Atlantic. We evaluated the ingestion of marine debris (items >0.1 mm) by 126 coastal and pelagic birds (19 species) along the coast of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil. Debris were found in 30% of birds examined (11 species). Particles <1 mm accounted for 35% of all debris items. Most ingested debris were plastics (97%). Ingestion of >0.1 g of plastic debris was recorded in five species: Atlantic yellow-nosed albatrosses (Thalassarche chlororhynchos), Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis), Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus), brown boobies (Sula leucogaster), and Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Our findings suggest that the ingestion of marine debris, especially plastics, is a common problem for coastal and pelagic birds in tropical Southwest Atlantic waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals, Rodovia BR-262 km 0, Jardim América, Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil; One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, VM3B, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Luciana Gallo
- Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Boulevard Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn U9120ACD, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Patricia P Serafini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Rodovia Maurício Sirotski Sobrinho SC 402, km 02, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88053-700, Brazil
| | - Allan P Santos
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals, Rodovia BR-262 km 0, Jardim América, Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil
| | - Leandro Egert
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals, Rodovia BR-262 km 0, Jardim América, Cariacica, Espírito Santo 29140-130, Brazil
| | - Marcela M Uhart
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, VM3B, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Enhancing the ecological realism of evolutionary mismatch theory. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 37:233-245. [PMID: 34802715 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Following rapid environmental change, why do some animals thrive, while others struggle? We present an expanded, cue-response framework for predicting variation in behavioral responses to novel situations. We show how signal detection theory can be used when individuals have three behavioral options (approach, avoid, or ignore). Based on this theory, we outline predictions about which animals are more likely to make mistakes around novel conditions (i.e., fall for a trap or fail to use an undervalued resource) and the intensity of that mismatch (i.e., severe versus moderate). Explicitly considering three options provides a more holistic perspective and allows us to distinguish between severe and moderate traps, which could guide management strategies in a changing world.
Collapse
|
22
|
Paterson HL, Stead JL, Crutchett T, Hovey RK, Ford BM, Speldewinde P, Zapata-Restrepo LM, Yanfang L, Zhang X, Cundy AB. Battling the known unknowns: a synoptic review of aquatic plastics research from Australia, the United Kingdom and China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1663-1680. [PMID: 34697621 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00175b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global environmental and human health issue, with plastics now ubiquitous in the environment and biota. Despite extensive international research, key knowledge gaps ("known unknowns") remain around ecosystem-scale and human health impacts of plastics in the environment, particularly in limnetic, coastal and marine systems. Here we review aquatic plastics research in three contrasting geographic and cultural settings, selected to present a gradient of heavily urbanised (and high population density) to less urbanised (and low population density) areas: China, the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia. Research from each country has varying environmental focus (for example, biota-focussed studies in Australia target various bird, fish, turtle and seal species, while UK and China-based studies focus on commercially important organisms such as bivalves, fish and decapods), and uses varying methods and reporting units (e.g. mean, median or range). This has resulted in aquatic plastics datasets that are hard to compare directly, supporting the need to converge on standardised sampling methods, and bioindicator species. While all the study nations show plastics contamination, often at high levels, datasets are variable and do not clearly demonstrate pollution gradients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet L Paterson
- School of Agriculture and the Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Jessica L Stead
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Thomas Crutchett
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Renae K Hovey
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Benjamin M Ford
- School of Agriculture and the Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Peter Speldewinde
- School of Agriculture and the Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Lina M Zapata-Restrepo
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Lu Yanfang
- Key Laboratory of Geoscience Big Data and Deep Resource of Zhejiang Province, School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geoscience Big Data and Deep Resource of Zhejiang Province, School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Andrew B Cundy
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
- Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li D, Zhao L, Guo Z, Yang X, Deng W, Zhong H, Zhou P. Marine Debris in the Beilun Estuary Mangrove Forest: Monitoring, Assessment and Implications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010826. [PMID: 34682571 PMCID: PMC8536081 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A modified approach for marine debris investigation in mangrove forests is developed, including some practical programs, viz., sampling location, time, area, materials, size and sources data processing. The marine debris method was practiced in the Beilun Estuary mangrove forest region in Fangchenggang in 2019, viz., the debris items were classified, counted, weighed and recorded, and the marine debris pollution was assessed to understand the impact of human activities. The results show that the mass density is 21.123 (2.355~51.760) g/m2, and more than 90% came from the land-based and human activities. More than 60% of the total debris weights are plastics, followed by fabrics (17.91%) and Styrofoam (10.07%); the big-size and oversize debris account for 76.41% and 13.33%, respectively. The quantity density is 0.163 (0.013~0.420) item/m2, and ~95% came from land-based human activities. More than 75% of the total debris items were plastics, followed by Styrofoam (14.36%), fabrics (4.10%) and glass (3.59%); the big-size, medium-size and oversize debris are 76.41%, 13.33% and 10.26%, respectively. The results suggest that mangrove forests are barriers for the medium-/big-size marine debris, acting as traps for marine debris. Our study provides recommendations and practical guidance for establishing programs to monitor and assess the distribution and abundance of marine debris. The results show that mangrove areas in the Beilun Estuary are filled with some plastic debris (plastics plus Styrofoam) and that the density and type at Zhushan and Rongshutou near the China-Vietnam border are more than those at Shijiao and Jiaodong. The results of this study are also expected to not only provide baseline data for the future assessment of Beilun Estuary mangroves but also to help China and Vietnam strengthen marine land-based pollution control and promote coastal wetland and mangrove conservation, marine species conservation and sustainable use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Li
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China; (D.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.G.); (X.Y.); (W.D.)
- South China Sea Testing and Appraisal Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Li Zhao
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China; (D.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.G.); (X.Y.); (W.D.)
- South China Sea Testing and Appraisal Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Zhiming Guo
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China; (D.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.G.); (X.Y.); (W.D.)
- South China Sea Testing and Appraisal Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xi Yang
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China; (D.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.G.); (X.Y.); (W.D.)
- South China Sea Testing and Appraisal Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Wei Deng
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China; (D.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.G.); (X.Y.); (W.D.)
- South China Sea Testing and Appraisal Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Haoxiang Zhong
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (P.Z.); Tel.: +86-20-89111586 (P.Z.); Fax: +86-20-84457983 (P.Z.)
| | - Peng Zhou
- South China Sea Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China; (D.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.G.); (X.Y.); (W.D.)
- South China Sea Testing and Appraisal Center, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Nansha Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guangzhou 510300, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (P.Z.); Tel.: +86-20-89111586 (P.Z.); Fax: +86-20-84457983 (P.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Surface engineering of cellulose film with myristic acid for high strength, self-cleaning and biodegradable packaging materials. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 269:118315. [PMID: 34294329 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Developing sustainable, renewable, hydrophobic, and biodegradable packaging material to replace petroleum-based plastic products remains a challenge. Herein, original cellulose/myristic acid composite films were fabricated by solvent-vaporized controllable crystallization of natural myristic acid on anisotropic cellulose films. The myristic acid crystals that evenly distributed on the surface of cellulose film generated micronano binary structure and the interstitial space between microplates, resulting in high hydrophobicity (water contact angle = 132°) and excellent self-cleaning property of the composite film. The resultant film exhibited good tensile strength and toughness under both dry (188.7 MPa, 34.4 MJ m-3) and humid conditions (119.9 MPa, 28.7 MJ m-3). Moreover, these composite films could be degraded completely after approximately 102 days in soil with an average environment temperature of 32 °C. This work provided a low-cost and sustainable pathway for the fabrication of high-strength, self-cleaning, and waterproof packaging materials instead of plastics.
Collapse
|
25
|
Nam KB, Kim M, Hong MJ, Kwon YS. Plastic debris ingestion by seabirds on the Korean Peninsula. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 166:112240. [PMID: 33752159 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic ingestion studies in seabirds that analyse the frequency of occurrence and the characteristics of the plastics ingested by each species provide valuable information for marine environmental assessments by quantifying the impacts of marine debris on seabirds. We investigated the frequency of plastic ingestion from a sample of 387 individuals of 11 seabird species on the Korean Peninsula. We found evidence of plastic ingestion in red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator) (33.3%), Pacific loons (Gavia pacifica) (10.0%), Swinhoe's storm petrels (Hydrobates monorhis) (93.7%), black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) (12.9%) and ancient murrelets (Synthliboramphus antiquus) (0.9%). In particular, it was observed that Swinhoe's storm petrels had the highest frequency of plastic ingestion, both in terms of the number of affected individuals, and the accumulated mass of plastic debris ingested. The majority of seabirds examined in our study had ingested microplastics, comprised predominantly of user plastics. This is the first report quantifying plastic ingestion in seabirds on the Korean Peninsula and in the broader area of the East Asian Seas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Baek Nam
- Korea Institute of Ornithology & Dep. of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Miran Kim
- Seabirds Lab. of Korea, Wonju 26353, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mi-Jin Hong
- Seabirds Lab. of Korea, Wonju 26353, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Soo Kwon
- Korea National Park Research Institute, Wonju 26441, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Roman L, Butcher RG, Stewart D, Hunter S, Jolly M, Kowalski P, Hardesty BD, Lenting B. Plastic ingestion is an underestimated cause of death for southern hemisphere albatrosses. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Roman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart Tasmania Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | | | - David Stewart
- Department of Environment and Science Queensland Government Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Stuart Hunter
- Wildbase Hospital Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| | - Megan Jolly
- Wildbase Hospital Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| | - Phil Kowalski
- The Nest Te Kōhanga Wellington Zoo Wellington New Zealand
| | | | - Baukje Lenting
- The Nest Te Kōhanga Wellington Zoo Wellington New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Roman L, Schuyler Q, Wilcox C, Hardesty BD. Plastic pollution is killing marine megafauna, but how do we prioritize policies to reduce mortality? Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Roman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | | | - Chris Wilcox
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Puskic PS, Lavers JL, Bond AL. A critical review of harm associated with plastic ingestion on vertebrates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 743:140666. [PMID: 32758824 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Studies documenting plastic ingestion in animals have increased in recent years. Many do not describe the less conspicuous, sub-lethal impacts of plastic ingestion, such as reduced body condition or physiological changes. This means the severity of this global problem may have been underestimated. We conducted a critical review on the sub-lethal impacts of plastic ingestion on marine vertebrates (excluding fish). We found 34 papers which tried to measure plastics' impact using a variety of tools, and less than half of these detected any impact. The most common tools used were visual observations and body condition indices. Tools that explore animal physiology, such as histopathology, are a promising future approach to uncover the sub-lethal impacts of plastic ingestion in vertebrates. We encourage exploring impacts on species beyond the marine environment, using multiple tools or approaches, and continued research to discern the hidden impacts of plastic on global wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Puskic
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Alexander L Bond
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Tring, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bestley S, Ropert-Coudert Y, Bengtson Nash S, Brooks CM, Cotté C, Dewar M, Friedlaender AS, Jackson JA, Labrousse S, Lowther AD, McMahon CR, Phillips RA, Pistorius P, Puskic PS, Reis AODA, Reisinger RR, Santos M, Tarszisz E, Tixier P, Trathan PN, Wege M, Wienecke B. Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean: Birds and Marine Mammals in a Changing Climate. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
|
30
|
Roman L, Kastury F, Petit S, Aleman R, Wilcox C, Hardesty BD, Hindell MA. Plastic, nutrition and pollution; relationships between ingested plastic and metal concentrations in the livers of two Pachyptila seabirds. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18023. [PMID: 33093560 PMCID: PMC7582968 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75024-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring metals and metalloids [metal(loid)s] are essential for the physiological functioning of wildlife; however, environmental contamination by metal(loid) and plastic pollutants is a health hazard. Metal(loid)s may interact with plastic in the environment and there is mixed evidence about whether plastic ingested by wildlife affects metal(loid) absorption/assimilation and concentration in the body. We examined ingested plastic and liver concentration of eleven metal(loid)s in two seabird species: fairy (Pachyptila turtur) and slender-billed prions (P. belcheri). We found significant relationships between ingested plastic and the concentrations of aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the liver of prions. We investigated whether the pattern of significant relationships reflected plastic-metal(loid) associations predicted in the scientific literature, including by transfer of metals from ingested plastics or malnutrition due to dietary dilution by plastics in the gut. We found some support for both associations, suggesting that ingested plastic may be connected with dietary dilution / lack of essential nutrients, especially iron, and potential transfer of zinc. We did not find a relationship between plastic and non-essential metal(loid)s, including lead. The effect of plastic was minor compared to that of dietary exposure to metal(oid)s, and small plastic loads (< 3 items) had no discernible link with metal(loid)s. This new evidence shows a relationship between plastic ingestion and liver metal(loid) concentrations in free-living wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Roman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, TAS, Australia. .,Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | - Farzana Kastury
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sophie Petit
- ScaRCE Research Centre, UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Rina Aleman
- ScaRCE Research Centre, UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Chris Wilcox
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | | | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mearns AJ, Morrison AM, Arthur C, Rutherford N, Bissell M, Rempel-Hester MA. Effects of pollution on marine organisms. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2020; 92:1510-1532. [PMID: 32671886 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This review covers selected 2019 articles on the biological effects of pollutants, including human physical disturbances, on marine and estuarine plants, animals, ecosystems, and habitats. The review, based largely on journal articles, covers field, and laboratory measurement activities (bioaccumulation of contaminants, field assessment surveys, toxicity testing, and biomarkers) as well as pollution issues of current interest including endocrine disrupters, emerging contaminants, wastewater discharges, marine debris, dredging, and disposal. Special emphasis is placed on effects of oil spills and marine debris due largely to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and proliferation of data on the assimilation and effects of marine debris microparticulates. Several topical areas reviewed in the past (e.g., mass mortalities ocean acidification) were dropped this year. The focus of this review is on effects, not on pollutant sources, chemistry, fate, or transport. There is considerable overlap across subject areas (e.g., some bioaccumulation data may be appeared in other topical categories such as effects of wastewater discharges, or biomarker studies appearing in oil toxicity literature). Therefore, we strongly urge readers to use keyword searching of the text and references to locate related but distributed information. Although nearly 400 papers are cited, these now represent a fraction of the literature on these subjects. Use this review mainly as a starting point. And please consult the original papers before citing them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan J Mearns
- Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | - Nicolle Rutherford
- Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Seattle, Washington
| | - Matt Bissell
- Emergency Response Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Seattle, Washington
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lewis PJ, McGrath TJ, Chiaradia A, McMahon CR, Emmerson L, Allinson G, Shimeta J. A baseline for POPs contamination in Australian seabirds: little penguins vs. short-tailed shearwaters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 159:111488. [PMID: 32738640 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
While globally distributed throughout the world's ecosystems, there is little baseline information on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in marine environments in Australia and, more broadly, the Southern Hemisphere. To fill this knowledge gap, we collected baseline information on POPs in migratory short-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris) from Fisher Island, Tasmania, and resident little penguins (Eudyptula minor) from Phillip Island, Victoria. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were determined from blood samples, with total contamination ranging 7.6-47.7 ng/g ww for short-tailed shearwaters and 0.12-46.9 ng/g ww for little penguins. In both species contamination followed the same pattern where PCBs>OCPs>BFRs. BFR levels included the presence of the novel flame retardant hexabromobenzene (HBB). These novel results of POPs in seabirds in southeast Australia provide important information on the local (penguins) and global (shearwaters) distribution of POPs in the marine environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe J Lewis
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia; Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia.
| | - Thomas J McGrath
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Victoria 3925, Australia
| | - Clive R McMahon
- IMOS Animal Tagging, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay, Mosman 2088, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Louise Emmerson
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia
| | - Graeme Allinson
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Jeff Shimeta
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Smith EC, Turner A. Mobilisation kinetics of Br, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and Sb in microplastics exposed to simulated, dietary-adapted digestive conditions of seabirds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:138802. [PMID: 32447075 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Samples of beached plastics and historical and contemporary consumer plastics containing hazardous elements derived from reaction residues or functional additives have been micronised and subject to extraction conditions representative of the digestive environment of seabirds. Mobilisation of Br, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and Sb into NaCl solution, an avian physiologically-based extraction test (PBET) and a dietary-adapted PBET (DA-PBET) incorporating fish oil as part of the avian diet was monitored by ICP-MS over a 168-h period. Kinetic data were subsequently fitted using pseudo-first-order and parabolic diffusion models in order to derive rate constants for the release of hazardous elements during avian digestion of microplastics. Rate constants were variable and dependent on the nature and origin of plastic, type of residue or additive, extractant solution employed and model applied. Resulting estimates of bioaccessibility, defined as the equilibrium or maximum concentration of an element mobilised over the time course relative to its total concentration, were variable but considerable in many cases. Specifically, maximum values of about 65% of Cd and 100% of Pb were observed in consumer polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene exposed to the avian PBET and beached polyurethane exposed to the DA-PBET, respectively. The potential health risks of hazardous elements in microplastics are addressed and criteria for classification based on the European Toy Safety Directive migration (mobilisation) limits are proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elliot C Smith
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Andrew Turner
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Berr T, Naudet J, Lagourgue C, Vuibert K, Bourgeois K, Vidal É. Plastic ingestion by seabirds in New Caledonia, South Pacific. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 152:110925. [PMID: 32479297 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of plastic pollutants in marine environments has many adverse effects on wildlife. In particular, marine predators are often exposed to accidental plastic ingestion, that may negatively affect survival due to the concentration of debris in the digestive tract. Among the species most vulnerable to plastic ingestion, seabirds are of major interest for conservation because of their wide foraging areas, long generation time and extended lifespan. We analysed stomach contents of 90 seabird specimens from 12 different species collected in New Caledonia to assess the local prevalence of plastic ingestion. Overall, we found plastic debris in 14.4% of sampled individuals, exclusively in procellariids: Gould's Petrel (41.2%, highest incidence), Tahiti Petrel (33.3%) and Wedge-tailed Shearwater (7.7%). To our knowledge, this study is the first characterization of plastic ingestion in seabirds from New Caledonia and our results show an overall lower ingestion prevalence compared to other assessments in the tropical Pacific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Berr
- Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France; UMR ENTROPIE (IRD-Université de La Réunion-CNRS), Laboratoire d'Excellence Labex-CORAIL, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia; Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia.
| | - Jeanne Naudet
- Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France; VetAgro Sup Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Cynthia Lagourgue
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Kiara Vuibert
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Karen Bourgeois
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Éric Vidal
- UMR ENTROPIE (IRD-Université de La Réunion-CNRS), Laboratoire d'Excellence Labex-CORAIL, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia; Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Dunlop SW, Dunlop BJ, Brown M. Plastic pollution in paradise: Daily accumulation rates of marine litter on Cousine Island, Seychelles. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 151:110803. [PMID: 32056598 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The daily accumulation rates, composition, sizes and potential sources of marine litter collected on a remote island within the Western Indian Ocean were investigated. In total, 9119 items of marine litter were collected during 40 surveys, which equated to 0.0082 items·m-1·d-1. Between 2003 and 2019 there was a significant increase in the amount of litter deposited, with the highest daily accumulation rate recorded in 2019 (0.0255 items·m-1·year-1). All specific litter types increased over time and also differed significantly in their accumulation rates, with polystyrene fragments/pieces (0.00249 items·m-1·d-1), plastic items (0.00135 items·m-1·d-1) and plastic bottles (0.0011 items·m-1·d-1) being the most commonly encountered during this study. The majority of the litter found was ≤5 cm in size. Nearly all (>80%) litter collected was made of or contained some form of plastic. Recommendations for improved management of litter and the importance of establishing regular beach clean-ups within the Seychelles are briefly discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S W Dunlop
- Cousine Island Company, Grand Anse, Praslin, Seychelles.
| | - B J Dunlop
- Cousine Island Company, Grand Anse, Praslin, Seychelles
| | - M Brown
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Roman L, Lowenstine L, Parsley LM, Wilcox C, Hardesty BD, Gilardi K, Hindell M. Is plastic ingestion in birds as toxic as we think? Insights from a plastic feeding experiment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 665:660-667. [PMID: 30776638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a modern tragedy of the commons, with hundreds of species affected by society's waste. Birds in particular mistake plastic for prey, and millions of wild birds carry small plastic loads in their stomach and are exposed to potential toxicological effects. It is currently unknown how severely the toxicological and endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastic affect avian development, reproduction and endocrine function. To address this question, we conducted multi-generational plastic feeding experiments to test the toxicological consequences of plastic ingestion at environmentally relevant loads in Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica, investigating parental and two filial generations. Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence of lasting toxicological effects on mortality, adult body weight, organ histology, hormone levels, fertility, hatch rates and eggshell strength in birds experimentally fed plastic. However, we found plastic ingestion causes higher frequencies of male reproductive cysts and minor delays in chick growth and sexual maturity, though without affecting ultimate survival or reproductive output. We report that although plastic ingestion causes detectable endocrine effects in our model species, our lack of finding mortality, morbidity and adverse reproductive outcomes may challenge the common hypothesis of severe toxicological harm and population-level effects when environmentally relevant loads of plastic are ingested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Roman
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Linda Lowenstine
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Laura Maeve Parsley
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Chris Wilcox
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Kirsten Gilardi
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Mark Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Roman L, Paterson H, Townsend KA, Wilcox C, Hardesty BD, Hindell MA. Size of marine debris items ingested and retained by petrels. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 142:569-575. [PMID: 31232340 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Pollution of the world's oceans by marine debris has direct consequences for wildlife, with fragments of plastic <10 mm the most abundant buoyant litter in the ocean. Seabirds are susceptible to debris ingestion, commonly mistaking floating plastics for food. Studies have shown that half of petrel species regularly ingest anthropogenic waste. Despite the regularity of debris ingestion, no studies to date have quantified the dimensions of debris items ingested across petrel species ranging in size. We excised and measured 1694 rigid anthropogenic debris items from 348 petrel carcasses of 20 species. We found that although the size of items ingested by petrels scale positively with the size of the bird, 90% of all debris items ingested across species fall within a narrow "danger zone" range of 2-10 mm, overlapping with the most abundant oceanic debris size. We conclude that this globally profuse size range of marine plastics is an ingestion hazard to petrels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Roman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Harriet Paterson
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia, Albany, Australia
| | - Kathy A Townsend
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Australia
| | - Chris Wilcox
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Roman L, Hardesty BD, Hindell MA, Wilcox C. A quantitative analysis linking seabird mortality and marine debris ingestion. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3202. [PMID: 30824751 PMCID: PMC6397299 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36585-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Procellariiformes are the most threatened bird group globally, and the group with the highest frequency of marine debris ingestion. Marine debris ingestion is a globally recognized threat to marine biodiversity, yet the relationship between how much debris a bird ingests and mortality remains poorly understood. Using cause of death data from 1733 seabirds of 51 species, we demonstrate a significant relationship between ingested debris and a debris-ingestion cause of death (dose-response). There is a 20.4% chance of lifetime mortality from ingesting a single debris item, rising to 100% after consuming 93 items. Obstruction of the gastro-intestinal tract is the leading cause of death. Overall, balloons are the highest-risk debris item; 32 times more likely to result in death than ingesting hard plastic. These findings have significant implications for quantifying seabird mortality due to debris ingestion, and provide identifiable policy targets aimed to reduce mortality for threatened species worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Roman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | | | - Mark A Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Chris Wilcox
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|