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Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
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This study found microplastics in barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets collected at two sites in Portugal with different levels of human activity. As apex predators in terrestrial food chains, barn owls accumulate microplastics from the small mammals they eat, demonstrating that microplastic contamination extends through land-based food webs.
Abstract Plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments and its accumulation along food chains has been poorly studied in birds. The barn owl (Tyto alba) is an opportunistic and nocturnal apex predator feeding mostly on small mammals. In this note, we report the first evidence of microplastics (MPs) contamination in barn owl pellets collected in two sites with different levels of anthropization (low: natural landscape mosaic vs. high: extensive croplands). The following polymers have been recorded: Polyvinylchloride (PVC), Polyethylene (PE), Expanded Polyester (EPS), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyester, Viscose, and starch-based Biopolymer. We found significant higher MPs frequency and density (MPs items/total preyed biomass), in the most anthropized site. Our results suggest that pellet’ analysis may represent a cost-effective method for monitoring MP contamination along food chains in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
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Researchers found evidence of microplastic contamination in barn owl pellets collected from two sites with different levels of human activity, marking the first such study of its kind. Several polymer types were identified in the pellets, indicating that microplastics are moving through terrestrial food chains to reach apex predators. The findings suggest that even wildlife in relatively natural landscapes is exposed to microplastic pollution through their prey.
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Researchers analyzed barn owl pellets as a non-invasive method to assess microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The study found confirmed microplastics in 33% of pellets collected from three agricultural areas, with polyethylene terephthalate microfibres being the most common type, suggesting that barn owl pellet analysis could serve as a cost-effective monitoring tool for terrestrial microplastic pollution.
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