We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Documentation of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of terrestrial raptors in central California, USA
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of all 16 terrestrial raptors (hawks and owls) examined on California's central coast, averaging over 12 particles per bird. The study is significant because it shows microplastic contamination has spread into land-based food chains, not just aquatic ones, raising questions about how plastic pollution affects predatory bird populations.
Microplastics are persistent environmental contaminants that to date have been studied primarily in aquatic systems, but few studies have examined their prevalence or impact in terrestrial trophic networks. A recent study documented microplastics in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of terrestrial raptors in central Florida. We used protocols based on that study to develop a baseline dataset of microplastics in the GI tracts of terrestrial raptors on the central coast of California. In 2021, Pacific Wildlife Care, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Morro Bay, CA, provided 16 raptor carcasses: three red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), four red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus), two great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), and seven barn owls (Tyto alba). We found microplastics in the GI tracts of all 16 birds, with a mean (± SE) of 12.25 (± 1.89) microplastic particles per bird. Of the 196 microplastic particles we observed, microfibers were the most abundant (58%), followed by microbeads (34%), and microfragments (8%). However, microbeads were the most prevalent, found in all 16 birds, followed by microfibers (15 birds), and microfragments (6 birds). The chemical composition and source of these contaminants remains unclear, along with the physiological and ecological implications to raptor populations and their ecosystems, and the extent to which microplastics occur in other terrestrial species and regions in California.
More Papers Like This
Accumulation of microplastics in predatory birds near a densely populated urban area
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in every single digestive tract examined from four species of predatory birds near a major city, and 65% also had microplastics in their respiratory systems. On average, each bird contained about 8 microplastic particles, mostly fibers, likely ingested through contaminated prey. This is the first study to document microplastic contamination in the breathing organs of birds of prey, showing how plastic pollution moves up the food chain.
Investigation of Microplastic Accumulation in the Gastrointestinal Tract in Birds of Prey
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics and plastic-associated pollutants were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of birds of prey, confirming that plastic contamination is transferring up food chains to apex predators. This raises concerns about endocrine disruption and toxic accumulation in wildlife and potentially humans.
Regurgitated Bird Pellets as Tools to Assess Microplastics in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studied leftover food pellets coughed up by birds like owls and falcons in both rural and city areas, and found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) in about 1 in 7 samples—with more found in areas with heavier human activity. This matters because it shows plastic pollution is working its way into land-based food chains, not just oceans, which raises questions about how much plastic might eventually make its way up the food chain to humans through the animals and environments we depend on.
Interspecific differences in microplastic accumulation and polymer profiles from regurgitated pellets of coexisting raptors
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studied tiny plastic bits (microplastics) found in the leftover indigestible pellets that owls and kestrels cough up after eating prey, and found that almost all the pellets contained plastic — with kestrels showing way more contamination than owls, even though the birds live in the same areas. This matters because it shows plastic pollution is working its way up the food chain into predators, which raises questions about how much plastic might also be building up in the meat, fish, and other animal products humans eat.
Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
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.