We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis identifies microplastics in stranded common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from New Zealand waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in all 15 stranded common dolphins examined from New Zealand, averaging 7.8 pieces per stomach, with polyethylene terephthalate fibers and polypropylene fragments as the dominant polymer types and no correlation between MP load and biological parameters.
Here we provide a first assessment of microplastics (MPs) in stomach contents of 15 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from both single and mass stranding events along the New Zealand coast between 2019 and 2020. MPs were observed in all examined individuals, with an average of 7.8 pieces per stomach. Most MPs were fragments (77%, n = 90) as opposed to fibres (23%, n = 27), with translucent/clear (46%) the most prevalent colour. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed polyethylene terephthalate (65%) as the most predominant polymer in fibres, whereas polypropylene (31%) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (20%) were more frequently recorded as fragments. Mean fragment and fibre size was 584 μm and 1567 μm, respectively. No correlation between total number of MPs and biological parameters (total body length, age, sexual maturity, axillary girth, or blubber thickness) was observed, with similar levels of MPs observed between each of the mass stranding events. Considering MPs are being increasingly linked to a wide range of deleterious effects across taxa, these findings in a typically pelagic marine sentinel species warrants further investigation.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in the stomach contents of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) stranded on the Galician coasts (NW Spain, 2005–2010)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in the stomach contents of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded on Galician coasts between 2005 and 2010, providing the first record of microplastic presence in the digestive tracts of marine mammals from this region.
Matter of fac(ies)t? - Microplastic findings in stranded cetaceans along the German coastlines
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed faeces and gastrointestinal tracts from 21 cetaceans stranded along German North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts between 2016 and 2021, including the 2016 bachelor sperm whale stranding event, using washing machine cleaning, Nile Red staining, fluorescence microscopy, and µFTIR spectroscopy. Multiple polymer types were identified including polyester, polyolefins, polyamide, and polyethylene across both toothed and baleen whale species.
Microplastics in large whales occasionally found in German waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic occurrence in intestinal and fecal samples from 19 large whales stranded on German and Danish coasts between 2016 and 2022, using Nile Red staining, fluorescence microscopy, and µFTIR spectroscopy for particle identification. They found an average of 4.6 MPs per individual in odontocetes and 3.3 MPs in mysticetes, with polyamide and polyester as the dominant polymer types and an equal ratio of fragments to fibers.
First report from North America of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study reported the first North American case of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of stranded bottlenose dolphins, finding particles in the majority of animals examined. The detection of microplastics in apex marine predators like dolphins indicates that plastic contamination has penetrated far up the marine food chain.
Microplastic pollution in finless porpoises and their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in finless porpoises along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) on intestinal samples and habitat water. They found microplastics ubiquitous in both porpoise intestines and surrounding waters, with fibers being the dominant form (86.90% of intestinal MPs), mostly transparent and smaller than 1.0 mm in size.
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.