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First assessment of debris pollution in the gastrointestinal content of juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) stranded on the west south Atlantic coasts.
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This study found anthropogenic debris including plastics and fibers in 100% of juvenile Magellanic penguins stranded on the Argentine coast, with microparticles making up the vast majority. This is the first assessment of debris ingestion in juvenile Magellanic penguins and raises concerns about the impact of plastic pollution on these vulnerable young seabirds.
This paper provides the first evidence of debris pollution, including plastic, in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found stranded on the Atlantic coast of southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Macro-, meso- and microparticles of anthropogenic origin were observed in 100 % of the studied birds, with debris abundance ranging between 33 and 200 items/bird. Microparticles represented 91 % of the total debris and 97 % of them were fibers. Black particles were the most abundant (30 %), followed by transparent (26 %), blue (14 %), yellow (10.3 %), and red (10 %). Infrared and Raman spectroscopy identified 62.7 % of the total particles as plastics, with polypropylene (27.8 %) and polyester (21.6 %) being the most abundant polymers. Semi-synthetic cellulosic fibers, metallic particles, and pigments were also found. The presence of metallic microparticles was suggested for the first time in penguins. Stranded juvenile Magellanic penguins are proposed as promising bioindicators of plastic pollution in the South Atlantic.
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First assessment of plastic pollution in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from South Atlantic Coasts
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Researchers examined plastic pollution in the gastrointestinal tracts of juvenile Magellanic penguins stranded on beaches in Argentina, finding plastic in 100% of the 21 individuals examined, with an average of 77 particles per bird. The overwhelming majority of items were microplastics, mostly fibers, indicating that these seabirds are routinely ingesting plastic particles likely through consuming contaminated prey.
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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.