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The use of European shag pellets as indicators of microplastic fibers in the marine environment
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Synthetic fibers were found in pellets regurgitated by European shag seabirds in northern Spain, providing a non-lethal method for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal marine environments. Seabird pellets could serve as a low-cost, repeatable indicator of local microplastic contamination.
Microplastic particles are abundant marine pollutants that are ingested by many seabirds. Some seabirds regurgitate non-digestible materials in the form of pellets and their analysis may be useful to study the abundance of plastic debris at the local scale. Here, we aimed to provide baseline data for the presence of microplastics in pellets regurgitated by European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) (n = 41) in the Iberia peninsula (NW Spain). We found microplastic fibers in 63% of pellets, suggesting that this type of plastic pollution is prevalent in the study area. According to Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry, nylon fibers were the most abundant, followed by polyester. We also found that the presence of microplastics was higher in pellets containing remains of benthic fishes. Our results suggest that shag pellets may be useful to monitor microplastic pollution in coastal waters.
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Microplastics in faeces of European shags Gulosus aristotelis in central Norway
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Researchers analyzed microplastics in 36 fecal samples from European shag chicks in central Norway to quantify egested microplastics using a non-lethal sampling method. Microplastics were detected in the majority of samples, dominated by fibers, confirming that seabirds in Norwegian coastal waters are routinely ingesting plastic debris.
Garbage in guano? Microplastic debris found in faecal precursors of seabirds known to ingest plastics
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Microplastics including fibers and fragments were detected in faecal precursors (pellets) from seabirds known to ingest plastics, providing non-lethal evidence of plastic ingestion that could be used in monitoring programs. The method offers a practical way to assess plastic ingestion in protected seabird species without requiring destructive sampling.
White Stork Pellets: Non-Invasive Solution to Monitor Anthropogenic Particle Pollution
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Researchers used white stork (Ciconia ciconia) pellets as a non-invasive monitoring tool for anthropogenic particle pollution, analyzing regurgitated pellets to characterize ingested microplastic and synthetic fiber loads. The method proved viable for detecting plastic ingestion without animal sacrifice and revealed widespread exposure of storks to anthropogenic particles across their European foraging range.
Unraveling Plastic Pollution in Protected Terrestrial Raptors Using Regurgitated Pellets
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Regurgitated pellets from six protected raptor species in Spain contained microplastics and artificial fibers, with prevalence and composition varying by species and feeding ecology, providing the first evidence of plastic pollution in terrestrial birds of prey via their prey items.
Dataset: Plastic ingestion and diet composition in European shags (Gulosus aristotelis)
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Researchers compiled pellet-level data on prey composition and plastic debris — including microfibers by color — found in European shags collected in northern Spain from 2006 to 2022, providing a longitudinal dataset linking diet composition to plastic ingestion in a coastal seabird.
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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.