We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Marine debris ingestion by the South American Fur Seal from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
AI summary Read the abstract
Marine debris was found in 7% of South American fur seals examined from beaches in Argentina and Brazil, with plastic being the most common type. While the ingestion rate was relatively low, the findings confirm that this marine mammal species is exposed to plastic pollution throughout its range.
In this paper, we examined the ingestion of marine debris (MD) in South American fur seals (SAFS), Arctocephalus australis, found dead in coastal beaches of northern Argentina and southern Brazil. Seven percent of 133 SAFS analyzed presented marine debris in their stomach (n=10), with no differences between sampling countries (Brazil n=7, Argentina n=3) and sexes (female=3; male=6). However, significant differences were observed between ages classes, with MD exclusively present in stomach contents of young specimens. Plastics represents 90% of MD ingested by the SAFS, whereas regarding the source, fishery-related items (e.g. monofilament lines) were the main MD (70%), with a lesser proportion of packaging (e.g. pieces of bags). Low numbers but large size pieces of MD were found in each stomach affected. Negative effects on the individuals could not be fully evaluated. Therefore, the potential impacts of the marine debris to the SAFS deserve further elucidation.
More Papers Like This
Marine debris ingestion by cetaceans stranded on the coast of Southern Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed gastrointestinal contents of 884 stranded cetaceans along the southern Brazilian coast and found plastic debris in 10% of animals, with the endangered Franciscana dolphin showing the highest ingestion rate at nearly 18%, suggesting chronic sublethal toxic effects may compound more immediate threats like fishery bycatch.
First detection of plastic microfibers in a wild population of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) in the Chilean Northern Patagonia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected plastic microfibers in scats of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) in Chilean Northern Patagonia, providing the first evidence of microfiber contamination in this wild pinniped population and highlighting marine microplastic exposure in a relatively remote Southern Hemisphere habitat.
Evaluating exposure of northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, to microplastic pollution through fecal analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Fecal samples from 44 northern fur seals across their eastern Pacific range were analyzed for microplastics, with plastic fragments found in 55% and fibers in 41% of scats, and a mean of 16.6 fragments/scat among positive samples. The study documents microplastic exposure in a marine mammal species consumed by humans, raising questions about potential exposure during subsistence harvesting.
Marine Debris Reach Antarctic Seals: Fibers Are the Main Ingested Microplastic
AI summary Read the abstract
Antarctic seals were found to have ingested microplastics, with fibers being the most common type detected — likely originating from atmospheric deposition or contaminated prey. The findings extend known microplastic contamination to a charismatic and ecologically important Antarctic predator. As plastic pollution increases in the Southern Ocean, large marine mammals face growing exposure through both direct ingestion and the food chain.
Ingestion of plastic debris by commercially important marine fish in southeast-south Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists visually examined 965 specimens of eight commercially exploited fish species off the southeast-south coast of Brazil for plastic debris ingestion, finding plastic in multiple species across different marine habitats.
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.