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Microplastics in faeces of European shags Gulosus aristotelis in central Norway
Summary
Researchers analyzed microplastics in 36 fecal samples from European shag chicks in central Norway to quantify egested microplastics using a non-lethal sampling method. Microplastics were detected in the majority of samples, dominated by fibers, confirming that seabirds in Norwegian coastal waters are routinely ingesting plastic debris.
Plastic pollution is an increasing problem in the marine environment, and microplastics are frequently ingested by wildlife, including seabirds. Faeces are an increasingly used matrix to quantify egested microplastics. We investigated microplastics in 36 faeces samples from chicks of European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) sampled at Sklinna, central Norway in 2021. Small particles <300 μm (62 %) dominated the material. Out of 465 particles measured with Raman spectroscopy, 32 were identified as microplastics (21 fragments, 4 fibres). 69.4 % of faecal samples contained microplastics, with on average 17 microplastic particles per g faeces dry weight. Sixteen of the 36 samples originated from siblings sampled within the same hour, and plastic loads of these samples were more similar to each other compared to those from other individuals. This suggests that a sample from one chick is representative for all siblings at a given moment in time and proofs parental transfer of MP.