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What's on the menu? Megaplastics in a stranded Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823 on Rhodes Island, Greece
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Researchers examined the stomach contents of a stranded Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) found on Rhodes Island, Greece, discovering 6.73 kg of plastic debris covering 17.44 m2, consisting mostly of polyethylene sheets and intact plastic bags, with the largest single item measuring approximately 2,000 cm2. Spectroscopic analysis detected black oil/tar residues on multiple plastic items, and the findings indicate that plastic ingestion caused severe malnutrition likely contributing to the whale's death.
Global plastic pollution defines the Plasticene Era, disrupting trophic interactions across ecosystems. Despite progress since the 1990s, much about beaked whale biology and conservation status remains unknown, particularly their vulnerability to plastic pollution. The stranding of a female Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) on Rhodes Island, Greece, in April 2022 provided a rare chance to assess this threat. Examination revealed 6.73 kg of plastic debris in the stomach, covering 17.44 m2, mostly polyethylene sheets, including three intact plastic bags. The largest item measured ~2000 cm2, potentially mistaken for cephalopods. Spectroscopic analysis showed black residues resembling oil/tar on multiple items. Black and transparent plastics were dominant (~33 % each), followed by grey (24 %) and blue (10 %). Microplastics were not evaluated in this study, and tissue analysis showed no significant abnormalities. Cephalopod beaks of similar size to the plastics were also present. The findings indicate that plastic ingestion caused severe malnutrition, potentially contributing to the whale's death.
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