Revelance of Polyethylene as the Most Frequent Plastic Ingested by Cory's Shearwaters in the Canary Islands

Monitoring Plastic Ingestion in Selected Azorean Marine Organisms

Characterization of Plastics Ingested by the Bioindicator Cory’s Shearwater from Tenerife Island (Canary Islands): Implications for Marine Environmental Monitoring

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Researchers characterised 674 plastic items found in the stomachs of Cory's shearwater fledglings from the Canary Islands, finding that ingested plastics were predominantly large microplastics (1-5 mm, 82%) with threadlike morphology, and that the birds serve as effective bioindicators of marine plastic pollution in the eastern Atlantic.

Differential microplastic contamination of waterbirds in a coastal region associated with trophic groups and spatial distribution

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A study of waterbird feces in southern Brazil found that shorebirds feeding in sediments had far higher microplastic loads than fish-eating birds, and contamination was worst near urban areas, with polyester and PVC the most common polymers detected. Trophic position and proximity to cities both shape how much plastic wildlife ingests, providing a natural monitoring system for tracking coastal microplastic pollution.

Microplastics and terrestrial birds: a review on plastic ingestion in ecological linchpins

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Researchers reviewed how microplastic pollution affects terrestrial birds — key ecological indicators — finding documented harms including intestinal blockage and developmental disruption, with implications for entire food webs since birds that ingest plastics can concentrate and transfer contamination to other species, including humans.

Biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants from diets and microplastics to a seabird species (Sula sula)

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This study analyzed policy debates surrounding Angola's plastic bag ban, examining stakeholder positions, implementation challenges, and economic impacts on producers and consumers. The research provides insights into how plastic regulation unfolds in Sub-Saharan African contexts with limited formal waste management infrastructure.