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Quantifying ingested debris in marine megafauna: a review and recommendations for standardization
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This review examined published methods for quantifying ingested plastic debris in marine megafauna — including whales, turtles, and sharks — and found wide variation in reporting practices. The authors propose standardized protocols for sample collection, processing, and data reporting to enable meaningful comparisons across species and regions.
Plastic pollution has become one of the largest environmental challenges we currently face, but standardized reporting is required to meet critical research needs.
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A review of 112 studies on plastic ingestion by marine vertebrates (sea turtles, cetaceans, fish) found widespread occurrence across species and ocean regions, with methodological inconsistencies preventing reliable global comparisons and underscoring the need for standardized protocols.
Tools and constraints in monitoring interactions between marine litter and megafauna: Insights from case studies around the world
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Researchers synthesized case studies from seven global monitoring programs on marine litter interactions with megafauna — including fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals — examining both macro-debris entanglement and microplastic ingestion, and discussed the critical need for standardized assessment methods to support international environmental policy.
Towards the suitable monitoring of ingestion of microplastics by marine biota: A review
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This review assessed various monitoring methods for detecting microplastic ingestion by marine biota, comparing laboratory and field-based approaches. The authors recommend method selection based on organism type and research question and call for more consistent reporting standards to enable cross-study comparison.
Recommended best practices for plastic and litter ingestion studies in marine birds: Collection, processing, and reporting
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This paper proposed standardized best practices for sampling, processing, and reporting plastic ingestion in marine birds, aiming to improve consistency across studies and enable meaningful large-scale comparisons.
Plastic pollution and ocean giants: Investigating the extent and impacts of plastic ingestion by marine megafauna
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This review examined the extent to which large ocean-going animals such as whales and whale sharks ingest and are harmed by plastic pollution, synthesizing data from stranding records and feeding observations. The evidence indicates that plastic ingestion is widespread among ocean giants, with documented cases of mortality and sublethal effects.
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.