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Microplastics in Big Brown Bats: Associations with county level Urbanization
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Scientists found microplastics, tiny plastic particles, in the organs of wild bats living in North Carolina, and bats from more urban, developed areas tended to have higher amounts. Since these bats eat insects and breathe the same air we do, this suggests that living in cities may mean more exposure to microplastics for animals and possibly people, too. While this study can't yet tell us exactly how these particles affect health, it adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution is widespread in the environment and works its way into living creatures.
As plastics degrade, they form microplastics (MPs) that can be ingested or inhaled and subsequently accumulate in animal tissues. Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bats) are widespread North American insectivores that can serve as bioindicators of MP exposure through airborne, aquatic, and insect-mediated pathways. In this study, we evaluated 18 bats across six counties in North Carolina, USA. We assessed MP presence in the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract and tested whether urbanization predicts MP burden. An urbanization index was developed using population density, impervious surface cover, and tree canopy metrics. Specimens were obtained opportunistically as a byproduct of the rabies testing.
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First report of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of North American insectivorous bats
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This study provided the first report of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of North American insectivorous bats. Bats with higher microplastic loads showed lower body mass, potentially impairing fat storage needed for hibernation and migration—raising concern for bat populations already threatened by white-nose syndrome.
The First Record of Ingestion and Inhalation of Micro- and Mesoplastics by Neotropical Bats from the Brazilian Amazon
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This study documented the first recorded cases of micro- and mesoplastic ingestion and inhalation by neotropical bats, extracting digestive and respiratory tract contents from bat specimens. Microplastic contamination was found in both pathways, suggesting multiple routes of plastic exposure for these insectivorous mammals.
Plastic Waste in the Amazon Forest: What Is the Future of the Ecosystem Services Provided by the Local Bats?
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This study is the first to report microplastic contamination in Amazonian bats, finding that 95% of 81 bats from 25 species had microplastic fibers in their digestive or respiratory systems. The digestive system was more contaminated than the respiratory tract, indicating ingestion through contaminated food and water as the primary exposure route. The finding shows that microplastic pollution has reached one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and is affecting mammals that provide critical ecosystem services such as insect control and pollination.
Microplastic contamination in neotropical frugivorous bats (Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae, Carolliinae) shows no biome-specific differences between Cerrado and Amazon Forest.
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This study found that frugivorous bats in the Amazon carried higher microplastic loads than those in the Cerrado biome, contrary to expectations based on land use history, suggesting that factors other than landscape modification—such as diet and forest proximity to waterways—drive microplastic exposure in wildlife.
Microplastic Contamination in Amazon Vampire Bats (Desmodontinae: Phyllostomidae)
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Researchers examined vampire bats from the Amazon region and found microplastic contamination in every individual studied, across the stomach, intestines, and lungs. The particles were predominantly white or transparent fibers, with higher concentrations in the gastrointestinal system than the respiratory system. The findings demonstrate that microplastic pollution has reached even blood-feeding wildlife in remote tropical ecosystems, highlighting how pervasive these contaminants have become.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.