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First evidence of microplastic contamination in high-altitude ground dwelling birds: connecting local findings to global biodiversity and sustainability goals
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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers and fragments in the droppings of a rare bird living high in the Everest region—one of the most remote places on Earth—showing that plastic pollution has spread even to untouched mountain ecosystems, likely carried by wind and water. This matters because if plastic is showing up in wildlife this far from civilization, it's a reminder of just how widespread microplastics have become in our environment, food chains, and ultimately, in the air and water humans rely on too.
Microplastic contamination in remote high-altitude ecosystems remains poorly understood, particularly for terrestrial birds acting as ecological indicators. Understanding contamination patterns in high-altitude avifauna is crucial for assessing local pollution, long-range atmospheric transport and ecosystem health in climate-sensitive mountain regions. This exploratory study examined microplastics in fecal samples in Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), a bird species listed in CITES Appendix I, representing the first of its kind in high-altitude terrestrial birds. The research was carried out in Gokyo region of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Nepal, to assess the ecological risk, characterize the morphological properties and understand conservation implications of microplastics. Seven fecal samples were collected non-invasively through an opportunistic sampling method. Sample analysis followed double digestion, density separation, centrifugation, visualization and measurements. Hot needle test was preferred as a confirmatory test. Of the seven samples, six contained microplastics, indicating ingestion and defecation of microplastics by Tibetan Snowcock. A total of 17 microplastic particles were identified, with fibres dominating at 94.12%, followed by fragments. Black particles were most common (47.06%), followed by blue (23.53%). The average dimensions of particles were 1,386 mm in length and 28 mm in width, with an aspect ratio of 61.4:1, pointing to textile-derived microfibers. Hierarchical clustering based on microplastic characteristics revealed three groups: colored particles; colorless, fibrous particles; and black, fragmented particles. These patterns suggest textile fibres transported through atmospheric pathways and fragmented plastics from degraded consumer products, likely due to localized pollution. There is low to moderate contamination with minor risk (microplastic pollution load index = 2.12) to such bird species in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal. The high prevalence of contamination in this remote, protected ecosystem highlights significant microplastic pollution, raising urgent concerns for protecting its alpine biodiversity.
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