We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics and organic pollutants in stranded northern gannet (Morus bassanus) from Southern Spain
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first comprehensive assessment of plastic ingestion and organic pollutant exposure in northern gannets stranded along the southern Spanish coast. The study found that 88% of the 42 birds examined had ingested plastics, with microplastics dominating the debris, and transparent fibers being the most common type, alongside measurable levels of persistent organic pollutants in muscle tissue.
Plastic pollution poses a major threat to marine ecosystems, affecting seabirds both physically and chemically. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of macro-, meso-, and microplastic ingestion, together with the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in biological tissues of northern gannet (Morus bassanus) stranded along the Andalusian coast (southern Europe). A total of 42 individuals were necropsied to assess body condition, quantify ingested plastics, determine organic contaminants in muscle tissue, and assess potential associations between both types of exposure. The overall frequency of plastic ingestion was 88 % (100.0 % for adults and 85.7 % for juveniles). Microplastics (<5 mm) dominated the plastic debris (>77 %), with transparent fibres being the most prevalent form. Polymer analysis revealed viscose/regenerated cellulose and polyethylene as the predominant materials, highlighting textile-related sources. Chemical analyses detected 42 organic compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and personal care products (PCPs). Detections frequencies ranged from 10 to 100 % for PCBs, 50-100 % for OCPs, 0-100 % for PAHs, 5-95 % for PBDEs, and 0-90 % for PCPs. Adults exhibited higher POPs concentrations, consistent with age-related bioaccumulation. Statistical analyses showed no significant relationship between the number of ingested plastics and tissue contaminant burden after accounting for age, indicating that bioaccumulation rather than plastic-mediated transfer explains the observed patterns. These findings provide the first regional baseline for the integrated assessment of plastic ingestion and organic contaminant exposure in northern gannet along the southern Europe (the Andalusian coast), contributing to future monitoring and conservation efforts in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.
More Papers Like This
Plastic Ingestion and Organic Pollutants in Seabirds of Gran Canaria (canary Islands, Spain)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed the stomach contents and tissues of 88 seabirds from 14 species stranded or found dead in the Canary Islands, finding both plastic particles and organic pollutants in many individuals. The study documents how seabirds accumulate both plastics and plastic-associated chemical contaminants, with microplastics acting as vectors that concentrate toxic organic pollutants in marine birds.
Microplastics ingestion and chemical pollutants in seabirds of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)
AI summary Read the abstract
Gastrointestinal examination of 88 seabirds from 14 species on Gran Canaria revealed widespread plastic ingestion alongside elevated chemical pollutant levels in liver tissue. The study documents the co-occurrence of plastic ingestion and chemical contamination in Canary Island seabirds, where plastic pollution research has previously been limited.
Characterization of Plastics Ingested by the Bioindicator Cory’s Shearwater from Tenerife Island (Canary Islands): Implications for Marine Environmental Monitoring
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Ingestion of microplastics and mesoplastics by Trachurus declivis (Jenyns, 1841) retrieved from the food of the Australasian gannet Morus serrator: First documented report from New Zealand
AI summary Read the abstract
Plastic particles were found in the stomach of a fish (Trachurus declivis) retrieved from the diet of the Australasian gannet in New Zealand—the first documented report of plastic ingestion in this fish species from the region. The finding demonstrates that microplastics are moving through marine food webs even in the remote Southern Pacific.
First assessment of plastic pollution in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from South Atlantic Coasts
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined plastic pollution in the gastrointestinal tracts of juvenile Magellanic penguins stranded on beaches in Argentina, finding plastic in 100% of the 21 individuals examined, with an average of 77 particles per bird. The overwhelming majority of items were microplastics, mostly fibers, indicating that these seabirds are routinely ingesting plastic particles likely through consuming contaminated prey.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.