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Microplastics footprint in nature reserves-a case study on the microplastics in the guano from Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, China
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Researchers found microplastics in the droppings of birds at a protected nature reserve in China, with fibers and polyethylene being the most common types. Different bird species had varying levels of contamination depending on their habitat and feeding behavior, with aquatic birds generally ingesting more microplastics. This study shows that even wildlife in protected areas is exposed to microplastic pollution, which can move through food chains.
Bio-ingestion of microplastics poses a global threat to ecosystems, yet studies within nature reserves, crucial habitats for birds, remain scarce despite the well-documented ingestion of microplastics by avian species. Located in Jiangsu Province, China, the Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds Nature Reserve is home to diverse bird species, including many rare ones. This study aimed to assess the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in common bird species within the reserve, investigate microplastic enrichment across different species, and establish links between birds' habitat types and microplastic ingestion. Microplastics were extracted from the feces of 110 birds, with 84 particles identified from 37.27% of samples. Among 8 species studied, the average microplastic abundance ranged from 0.97 ± 0.47 to 43.43 ± 61.98 items per gram of feces, or 1.5 ± 0.87 to 3.4 ± 1.50 items per individual. The Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) exhibited the highest microplastic abundance per gram of feces, while the black-billed gull (Larus saundersi) had the highest abundance per individual. The predominant form of ingested microplastics among birds in the reserve was fibers, with polyethylene being the most common polymer type. Significant variations in plastic exposure were observed among species and between aquatic and terrestrial birds. This study represents the first quantitative assessment of microplastic concentrations in birds within the reserve, filling a crucial gap in research and providing insights for assessing microplastic pollution and guiding bird conservation efforts in aquatic and terrestrial environments.
More Papers Like This
Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China
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Researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics in the intestines of 49 bird species in Chengdu, China, with PVC and chlorinated polyethylene being the most common types. Nanoplastics, which are harder to detect and potentially more harmful, were confirmed in five species using advanced analytical methods. The widespread contamination across many bird species suggests that microplastic pollution has thoroughly penetrated terrestrial food webs, not just marine environments.
Microplastic pollution of threatened terrestrial wildlife in nature reserves of Qinling Mts., China
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Researchers found microplastics in the feces of three threatened wildlife species in China's Qinling Mountains nature reserves, including the golden snub-nosed monkey and leopard cat. Thirty-four types of microplastics were identified, with predators like the leopard cat having the highest levels, likely due to accumulation through the food chain. The finding that even protected wildlife in remote nature reserves is contaminated with microplastics shows how widespread this pollution has become.
Species-specific accumulation of microplastics in different bird species from South China: A comprehensive analysis
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Across 24 bird species in South China, insectivorous birds accumulated significantly more small microplastics (under 0.1 mm) than other feeding guilds, while piscivorous birds accumulated more large microplastics (over 1 mm). Diet source was a stronger predictor of microplastic contamination than trophic level or body weight, with polypropylene and PET as the dominant polymer types found.
[Pollution Characteristics of Microplastics in Migratory Bird Habitats Located Within Poyang Lake Wetlands].
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Researchers found microplastics in surface water, sediment, and the droppings of migratory birds at a Chinese wetland lake, raising concerns about how birds can transport microplastics across long distances. The study suggests that migratory birds may be spreading plastic contamination between distant habitats.
Microplastic Ingestion and Diet Analysis in Migratory Shorebirds at Bahía Lomas Ramsar Site, Chile.
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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers (microplastics) in the sediment, food, and droppings of migratory shorebirds in a remote, protected wetland in Chile — showing that plastic pollution has reached even far-off, seemingly pristine habitats. This matters because these birds are part of the same food chains and coastal ecosystems that eventually connect to the seafood many people eat, suggesting microplastic contamination is becoming nearly impossible to avoid, even in nature's most protected corners.
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