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Microfibers in the diet of a highly aerial bird, the Common swift Apus apus
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Researchers examined microfiber contamination in the diet of common swifts, a highly aerial bird that feeds exclusively on airborne insects, providing indirect evidence of microplastic presence in the atmosphere. Microfibers were detected in swift diet samples, supporting concerns about airborne microplastic exposure pathways for wildlife and humans.
The widespread problem of microplastic pollution impacts ecosystems globally. Contrary to the well-documented contamination in aquatic and terrestrial environments, research on airborne microplastics remains limited, despite their inhalation pose risks to humans and wildlife. Investigating their presence in the atmosphere is pivotal, yet the development of reliable methodology for their monitoring is still in its early stages. Given their established role as indicators of air, water, and soil contamination, birds might also serve as an excellent biological model for studying airborne microplastics. Our study, conducted in Northern Italy during spring 2021, focused on Common swifts (Apus apus). We collected their faecal sacs to not only assess their diet but also to investigate the potential ingestion of airborne microplastics by adult birds and the subsequent potential transfer of these contaminants to their offspring. We identified insect prey through chitin fragment analysis using taxonomic keys, while microscopy coupled with Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) was employed for polymer characterization. Our sample included six adults and 25 nestlings. Their diet was mainly composed by Hymenoptera and Coleoptera and did not differ among sexes and age classes. The 33 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/557849/document
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Microfibers in the diet of a highly aerial bird, the Common swift Apus apus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed the diet of common swifts for microfibers to assess whether aerial-foraging birds are exposed to airborne microplastics. Microfibers were detected in the birds' food boluses, confirming that airborne microplastic particles enter wildlife food chains through insect prey.
Microfibers in the Diet of a Highly Aerial Bird, the Common Swift Apus apus
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Researchers analyzed fecal samples from Common swifts and found that roughly one-third of nestlings and half of adults had ingested anthropogenic fibers, including microplastic fibers made of PET and cellophane. The findings suggest that airborne microplastics can be passively consumed during aerial feeding and may be transferred from adult birds to their offspring through food.
The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers
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Researchers examined two aerial bird species, the Common House Martin and Common Swift, as potential bioindicators of atmospheric microplastic pollution. They found microplastics and artificial fibers in both the digestive and respiratory systems of the birds, suggesting these airborne-feeding species are regularly exposed to suspended plastic particles. The study proposes that monitoring microplastics in aerial birds could provide valuable data on atmospheric plastic contamination levels.
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in tree swallow chicks near a wastewater treatment plant and at a rural conservation area. They found anthropogenic microparticles, predominantly fibers, in nearly all chicks at both sites, suggesting that aerial insectivores could serve as useful biological monitors for tracking microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments.
Anthropogenic debris as nest material in three swift species: New insights into the interactions of atmospheric pollution with wildlife
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A study of 487 nests from three swift species across 25 colonies in seven European countries found that 36.5% contained anthropogenic materials, mostly plastic, with pallid swifts having the highest plastic content (85% of nests). The probability of finding plastic in a nest increased substantially with the human footprint of the surrounding landscape, and four entanglement cases were recorded—the first reported direct interaction between atmospheric plastic debris and any wildlife species.
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