We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Identificación de microplásticos en heces de lobos marinos (Otaria flavescens) en el puerto La Poza, Región del Bio bío, Chile
AI summary Read the abstract
Fecal samples from South American sea lions at a Chilean port were analyzed for microplastics and found to contain microfibers of multiple colors, predominantly black. The presence of microplastics in sea lion feces confirms that these animals are ingesting plastic particles — likely through their fish prey — making them useful bioindicators of microplastic circulation in coastal marine food webs. The findings add to growing evidence that marine mammals in South American waters are exposed to plastic pollution through the food chain.
Los microplásticos se generan por la fragmentación del plástico que ingresa a los océanos y es consumido accidentalmente por diversas especies que se encuentran en la cadena trófica. Los otáridos son considerados como bioindicadores de la presencia de micropartículas en el ambiente; sin embargo, se desconoce el nivel de afectación en la zona costera de la región del Bio-bío, Chile. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la presencia de este polímero en heces de lobos marinos (Otaria flavescens), en el sector ‘La Poza’, comuna de Talcahuano, región del Bio-bío. Se tomaron muestras de heces que fueron liofilizadas, digeridas y posteriormente filtradas para identificar microplásticos. Se encontraron microfibras de varios colores, con predominio del color negro. Se concluye que los lobos marinos fueron indicadores de circulación de microplásticos en su cadena trófica en la zona de muestreo.
More Papers Like This
Monitoring the occurrence of microplastic ingestion in Otariids along the Peruvian and Chilean coasts
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers monitored microplastic ingestion in four pinniped species across five sites along the Peruvian and Chilean coasts by analyzing 205 scat samples, finding that 68% contained microplastic fragments or fibers — predominantly blue-colored — and that 81.5% were confirmed anthropogenic in origin.
Presence and characterization of microplastics in fish of commercial importance from the Biobío region in central Chile
AI summary Read the abstract
Six commercially important fish species from coastal and oceanic habitats in central Chile were analyzed for microplastics, with red microfibers (70–100% of particles) as the dominant form and polyester, PE, and PET as the main polymers, and coastal species showing higher abundance and larger fibers than oceanic species. The study documents microplastic contamination in Chilean commercial fisheries and a habitat-dependent difference in plastic burden.
Microplastics in Seabird Feces from Coastal Areas of Central Chile
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed fecal samples from Dominican gulls, Magellanic penguins, and Humboldt penguins in coastal Chile for microplastic content, finding microplastics in all three species. The results document microplastic ingestion by multiple seabird species in Chilean coastal ecosystems, reflecting ocean contamination in the southeastern Pacific.
Detection and quantification of microplastic pollution in the endangered Galapagos sea lion
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were detected in the feces of Galapagos sea lions — an endangered species living in a legally protected marine reserve — with fibers and fragments made primarily of polyester, nylon, and polyethylene. The findings suggest that even wildlife in nominally pristine protected areas are ingesting plastic, likely through their fish prey, raising conservation concerns for this vulnerable population.
First detection of plastic microfibers in a wild population of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) in the Chilean Northern Patagonia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected plastic microfibers in scats of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) in Chilean Northern Patagonia, providing the first evidence of microfiber contamination in this wild pinniped population and highlighting marine microplastic exposure in a relatively remote Southern Hemisphere habitat.
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.