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Microplastic exposure and body condition in white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus) nestlings across anthropogenic landscapes in Scotland and Spain

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2026
Colette Martin, Rachel Steenson, Mike Nicoll, Aitor Galarza, Sofie Spatharis, George Tsirtsis, Pablo Salmón

Summary

Researchers quantified microplastic concentrations in fecal samples from white-throated dipper nestlings across gradients of human land use in Scotland and northern Spain. They examined relationships between land-use composition, microplastic exposure, and nestling body condition using mixed-effects models. The study provides evidence that these riverine birds are exposed to microplastics even at early life stages, with exposure levels varying across different landscape types.

In this study we quantified microplastic concentrations in faecal samples of white-throated dipper nestlings (Cinclus cinclus) sampled across gradients of anthropogenic land use in Scotland and northern Spain. We examined relationships between land-use composition, microplastic exposure and nestling body condition (SMI). Analyses were conducted using mixed-effects models to account for the hierarchical structure of the data (nestlings nested within nests, sites and catchments) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to summarise correlated land-use variables.

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