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Cetaceans as a potential indicators of microand macroplastic impact in the marine environment: Trend topic and emerging gaps
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This review examines the scientific evidence and knowledge gaps around how microplastics and macroplastics affect cetaceans — both filter-feeding baleen whales and deep-diving sperm whales — including ingestion, toxicological effects, and entanglement. It highlights that the mechanisms of harm differ significantly between whale groups.
How can 5 mm plastic debris (microplastics) affect filter feeder baleen whales? How can kilograms of plastic debris affect sperm whales? Here, we report the scientific evidence and the emerging gaps of the interaction between the charismatic megafauna (filter feeder baleen whales and deep divers) and micro- and macroplastics studying their impact and their related toxicological effects. We also propose these species as candidate indicators for micro- and macro-plastic pollution, respectively, at global scale. Regarding the interaction between whales and microplastics the first warning was reported for Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) since 2012, and confirmed later (high concentrations of PBTs, plastic additives and specific biomarker responses, detected in skin biopsies) in the same species and for other filter feeders (basking and whale sharks). Filter-feeding megafauna are susceptible to high levels of microplastics ingestion and exposure to associated toxic compounds due to their feeding strategies and for habitat overlap with microplastic hot spots. For these reasons, this whale species has been proposed as a candidate indicator of microplastics pollution in semi-enclosed basins. On the other hand, deep divers such as the sperm whale and the Cuvier's beaked whale, are exposed to the ingestion of marine litter (ML), including large plastic fragments, due to their feeding in marine canyons. High occurrence of ML (75%) has been reported in Mediterranean sperm whales. This species was recently proposed as a candidate indicator the presence of ML in the Mediterranean (IMAP indicator 24). As these megafauna species are charismatic and iconic indicators that serve as flagship species for marine conservation, this research field became recently a “trend topic”. However, several gaps must be resolved, such as the investigations of new plastic tracers in the tissues and the identification (through omics techniques) of the toxicological effects caused to plastic debris ingestion in these species.
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This review synthesized global evidence on how marine litter, including both macro- and micro-scale plastic, impacts cetacean species through entanglement and ingestion. It called for better understanding of current and predicted impacts to inform conservation measures for whale and dolphin populations.
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This case study estimated how many microplastics Mediterranean fin whales and basking sharks might ingest through filter feeding, using feeding rate data and measured microplastic concentrations. The study raised concern that large filter feeders accumulate significant plastic loads and that the associated chemical burden from sorbed pollutants may pose health risks to these protected species.
Are fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) exposed to microplastics toxicological threat
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Researchers investigated whether fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea face toxicological risks from microplastics, by counting microplastics in surface waters and measuring phthalate concentrations in whale samples. The study compared two whale populations in areas of different human pressure to assess how microplastic-associated chemical contamination may affect these filter-feeding marine mammals.
Baleen–Plastic Interactions Reveal High Risk to All Filter-Feeding Whales from Clogging, Ingestion, and Entanglement
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Researchers used actual baleen tissue from four whale species in laboratory flow tank experiments to test how microplastics interact with the filtering structures whales use to feed. They found that microplastics clogged the baleen, reducing water flow, and that some particles became permanently trapped in the tissue. The study provides direct evidence that filter-feeding whales face risks from microplastic pollution through clogging, ingestion, and potential entanglement of their feeding apparatus.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.