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Microplastic and macroplastic ingestion by a deep diving, oceanic cetacean: The True's beaked whale Mesoplodon mirus
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Researchers documented microplastic and macroplastic ingestion by Cuvier's beaked whale — a deep-diving oceanic cetacean — finding substantial plastic loads in stranded individuals, highlighting risks for deep-diving marine mammals.
When mammals strand, they present a unique opportunity to obtain insights into their ecology. In May 2013, three True's beaked whales (two adult females and a female calf) stranded on the north and west coasts of Ireland and the contents of their stomachs and intestines were analysed for anthropogenic debris. A method for identifying microplastics ingested by larger marine organisms was developed. Microplastics were identified throughout the digestive tract of the single whale that was examined for the presence of microplastics. The two adult females had macroplastic items in their stomachs. Food remains recovered from the adult whales consisted of mesopelagic fish (Benthosema glaciale, Nansenia spp., Chauliodius sloani) and cephalopods, although trophic transfer has been discussed, it was not possible to ascertain whether prey were the source of microplastics. This is the first study to directly identify microplastics <5 mm in a cetacean species.
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Researchers combined field data and historical records on plastic ingestion across 623 stranded cetaceans globally, finding that beaked whales accumulate more macro-, meso-, and microplastics than striped dolphins — likely due to deep-diving feeding behavior — with the highest concentrations in the Western Pacific and Eastern Spain respectively.
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Researchers combined ocean microplastic data with high-resolution whale feeding measurements to estimate how much plastic blue, fin, and humpback whales ingest in the California Current Ecosystem. They found that whales likely consume millions of microplastic particles per day, primarily through contaminated prey rather than direct filtration of water. The study reveals that filter-feeding whales face far greater microplastic exposure than previously estimated.
Ingestion of microplastics by fish and other prey organisms of cetaceans, exemplified for two large baleen whale species
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Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in the prey species of minke and sei whales, finding microplastics were widespread in krill, fish, and other whale food. Since cetaceans consume large quantities of these prey, they are likely ingesting significant amounts of microplastics indirectly through their diet.
Microplastic in a macro filter feeder: Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae
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Researchers documented the first confirmed presence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of a baleen whale (humpback whale), finding multiple polymer types including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET in particle sizes from 1 mm to 17 cm, reflecting both the diversity of marine plastic pollution and the unselective filter-feeding strategy of these large marine mammals.
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.
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.