First Documentation of Plastic Ingestion in the Arctic Glaucous Gull (Larus Hyperboreus)

Changes in plastic ingestion by yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) over the breeding season

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Scientists studying seagulls in France found that nearly 84% of the birds' regurgitated pellets contained plastic, mostly bits of plastic sheeting like bags and wrappers. Interestingly, gulls seemed to eat slightly less plastic-contaminated food right when their chicks hatched, suggesting they instinctively try to feed their young safer meals. This matters for us too: it shows just how deeply plastic pollution has infiltrated wildlife food chains, the same food chains that eventually connect back to the fish and seafood many people eat.

Monitoring Plastic Ingestion in Selected Azorean Marine Organisms

Microplastics and terrestrial birds: a review on plastic ingestion in ecological linchpins

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Researchers reviewed how microplastic pollution affects terrestrial birds — key ecological indicators — finding documented harms including intestinal blockage and developmental disruption, with implications for entire food webs since birds that ingest plastics can concentrate and transfer contamination to other species, including humans.

Biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants from diets and microplastics to a seabird species (Sula sula)

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This study analyzed policy debates surrounding Angola's plastic bag ban, examining stakeholder positions, implementation challenges, and economic impacts on producers and consumers. The research provides insights into how plastic regulation unfolds in Sub-Saharan African contexts with limited formal waste management infrastructure.

Differential microplastic contamination of waterbirds in a coastal region associated with trophic groups and spatial distribution

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A study of waterbird feces in southern Brazil found that shorebirds feeding in sediments had far higher microplastic loads than fish-eating birds, and contamination was worst near urban areas, with polyester and PVC the most common polymers detected. Trophic position and proximity to cities both shape how much plastic wildlife ingests, providing a natural monitoring system for tracking coastal microplastic pollution.