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Microplastics in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) prey: An exploratory assessment of trophic transfer in the Beaufort Sea
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in five fish species that are prey for beluga whales in the eastern Beaufort Sea of the Arctic. They found microplastics in 21% of fish examined, predominantly fibers, and estimated that individual beluga whales may ingest between 3,800 and 145,000 microplastic particles annually through their diet.
Microplastics (MPs, <5 mm in length) have been identified as emerging contaminants in marine environments, with ingestion by a variety of biota being of increasing concern. Few studies exist on MP ingestion in Arctic fish, and there are currently no such data from the Beaufort Sea. We investigated MP abundance in five ecologically valuable species from three sampling sites in the Eastern Beaufort Sea to evaluate possible trophic-level pathways of MPs from prey to beluga whales. Polymer analysis confirmed that 21% of fish gastrointestinal tracts (n = 116) contained microplastic particles. Fish that contained MPs had a mean abundance of 1.42 ± 0.44 particles per individual and an overall mean abundance of 0.37 ± 0.16 particles. No plastic particles >5 mm were found, and 78% of the particles observed were fibers. Based on energetic needs, we estimate that individual beluga may ingest between 3800 and 145,000 microplastics annually through trophic transfer, with uncertain health implications.
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Microplastics in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the Eastern Beaufort Sea
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Researchers partnered with Inuvialuit hunters in Canada's Northwest Territories to examine microplastic contamination in beluga whales from the Eastern Beaufort Sea. They found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of every whale sampled, with an average of 97 particles per individual and polyester fibers being the most common type. The diversity of plastic polymers and shapes found points to multiple contamination sources reaching even remote Arctic marine ecosystems.
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Researchers examined the stomachs of seven beluga whales harvested in Arctic Canada and found microplastics in all of them. This is among the first studies documenting microplastic ingestion in cetaceans and raises concern about plastic contamination reaching top predators in remote Arctic food webs.
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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.