We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Visual comparison of microplastic counts in lavage and gastrointestinal tract samples of cowbirds.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared microplastic counts recovered from gastric lavage samples against those found in dissected gastrointestinal tracts of cowbirds, demonstrating the relationship between lavage recovery rates and total microplastic burden per individual bird.
(A) Relationship between the total number of microplastics recovered from lavage samples and the number of microplastics present in dissected gastrointestinal tracts of the same individuals. Each point represents one bird; the solid line shows the best-fit linear regression between the two measures. (B) Individual recovery rates for lavage samples, calculated as the proportion of microplastics recovered relative to the total count per bird.
More Papers Like This
Multi-level pie chart demonstrating the proportion of microplastics found in gastric lavage and GI samples.
AI summary Read the abstract
This supplementary figure presents a multi-level pie chart showing the proportional distribution of microplastic shapes recovered from gastric lavage samples versus dissected gastrointestinal tracts in cowbirds, visually comparing the two collection methods.
Gastric lavage may not be representative of total microplastic ingestion for a wild passerine bird
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested non-lethal gastric lavage in 105 Brown-headed Cowbirds and found it recovered only an average of 50.4% of total ingested microplastics — with wide individual variability (0–100%) — concluding the technique provides unreliable estimates of total microplastic body burden.
Brown-headed Cowbird paired lavage and GI microplastics data (April-May 2023)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used gastric lavage as a non-lethal method to sample microplastic ingestion in 105 wild Brown-headed Cowbirds in Texas, documenting MP types and quantities in the gizzard contents and validating this sampling technique for monitoring plastic pollution in free-living birds.
Microplastic loading in terrestrial birds from nonlethal sampling
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested wild terrestrial birds in the USA for microplastics using two methods: examining digestive tracts from dead birds and collecting droppings from live, released birds. Both methods found microplastics, with dropping samples detecting lower but comparable amounts. Microplastic levels varied more by individual bird than by diet, foraging habits, or body size.
Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of nestling and adult migratory birds
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of both nestling and adult migratory birds across six species, finding widespread plastic ingestion with fibers predominating, suggesting that microplastic exposure begins early in avian life stages.
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.