We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Large amounts of marine debris found in sperm whales stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined 22 of the 30 sperm whales that mass-stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016 and found marine debris — including fishing nets, ropes, plastic packaging, and a car part — in nine individuals, documenting the extent of large-item debris exposure in an apex marine predator even when ingested items were not the direct cause of death.
30 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the coasts of the North Sea between January and February 2016. The gastro-intestinal tracts of 22 of the carcasses were investigated. Marine debris including netting, ropes, foils, packaging material and a part of a car were found in nine of the 22 individuals. Here we provide details about the findings and consequences for the animals. While none of the items was responsible for the death of the animal, the findings demonstrate the high level of exposure to marine debris and associated risks for large predators, such as the sperm whale.
More Papers Like This
Matter of fac(ies)t? - Microplastic findings in stranded cetaceans along the German coastlines
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed faeces and gastrointestinal tracts from 21 cetaceans stranded along German North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts between 2016 and 2021, including the 2016 bachelor sperm whale stranding event, using washing machine cleaning, Nile Red staining, fluorescence microscopy, and µFTIR spectroscopy. Multiple polymer types were identified including polyester, polyolefins, polyamide, and polyethylene across both toothed and baleen whale species.
Microplastics in large marine animals stranded in the Republic of Korea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed microplastics in the digestive tracts of 12 stranded marine animals in South Korea, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, and sea turtles, detecting microplastic contamination across all species examined between 2019 and 2021.
Microplastics in large whales occasionally found in German waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic occurrence in intestinal and fecal samples from 18 whales and dolphins stranded on German and Danish North Sea and Baltic Sea coastlines between 2016 and 2022, finding an average of 4.6 MPs in odontocetes and 3.3 MPs in mysticetes per sample, with polyamide and polyester the dominant polymers and equal proportions of fragments and fibers.
When the small ones tease the largest: Microplastic and phthalate ester occurrence in cetaceans occasionally found in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Seven cetacean species stranded on Germany's North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts were examined for microplastics and phthalate esters, with microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals detected in intestinal and fecal samples across baleen and toothed whale species alike.
Cetacean sightings within the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented cetacean sightings — including sperm whales, beaked whales, and baleen whales — within the Great Pacific Garbage Patch during an October 2016 aerial survey, raising concern about marine mammal exposure to high concentrations of floating plastic debris.
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.