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Microparticle ingestion by the endangered marine otter (Lontra felina) in a human-impacted coastal ecosystem
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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers in the poop of endangered marine otters living along Peru's coast, showing that plastic pollution has worked its way into these animals' bodies through what they eat. This matters because these otters eat seafood similar to what humans eat, so finding microplastics in a top predator is a warning sign about how much plastic is circulating in our shared coastal food chain.
Marine pollution by microplastics (MPs) represents a global threat to marine organisms and may pose additional risks to endangered species such as the marine otter ( Lontra felina ), classified as Endangered both globally and in Peru. This study evaluated the occurrence of microparticles in marine otter scats and the accumulation of plastic waste in three localities along the central coast of Peru: Punta Corrientes, Pucusana, and Ancón. Field surveys were conducted during spring (October 2022) and autumn (May 2023). During each survey, scats were collected and otter presence was assessed through sightings and indirect evidence. Solid waste was qualitatively recorded in areas surrounding otter dens and along the coastline. The scats were processed with KOH to digest the organic material and obtain microparticles which were later tested for polymer identification with µ-Raman spectroscopy. A total of 69 microparticles were identified in scat samples. Pucusana showed the highest proportion (55.07%), followed by Ancón (23.19%) and Punta Corrientes (21.74%). Microparticles were more frequent in spring (59.42%) than in autumn. Fibers were the dominant type (88.41%), and black and blue particles were the most common colors. Polymer analysis of a subsample (56.52%) confirmed polypropylene (PP) in one fiber. No significant differences in microparticle occurrence were detected among localities (χ² = 5.56, p = 0.062). Solid waste, particularly plastic debris such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and fishing-related materials, was widely distributed across all sites. These results demonstrate the presence of anthropogenic microparticles in marine otter scats and their co-occurrence with plastic waste in coastal habitats. This study provides baseline evidence of environmental exposure in a top predator and highlights the need for improved waste management and monitoring in human-impacted coastal ecosystems.
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the poop of nearly every otter they sampled from rivers in Central Italy, with more pollution showing up near cities and in smaller streams. Since otters eat fish from the same waterways that supply drinking water and food to nearby communities, their contamination suggests these plastics, and whatever chemicals hitch a ride on them, are moving through the food chain in ways that could eventually reach us too. More research is needed to know exactly how this affects health, but the findings are a useful early warning sign for water pollution.
First record of microplastics in the endangered marine otter (Lontra felina)
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Researchers documented the first evidence of microplastic ingestion in the endangered marine otter (Lontra felina) by detecting plastic particles in fecal samples collected along the Peruvian and Chilean coasts, indicating that microplastics have entered coastal food webs reaching this apex predator.
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Researchers developed a standardized method for extracting and analyzing microplastics from Eurasian otter feces to use these apex predators as indicators of aquatic pollution. Testing the method on 50 samples from Austria's River Inn, they found microplastics of various sizes and types, including fibers and tire wear particles, in every sample. The study suggests that otters can serve as effective bioindicators for tracking microplastic contamination in river ecosystems.
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