We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Integrating plastic ingestion impacts into biodiversity metrics: a global effect factor for marine air-breathing vertebrates
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studied how plastic pollution affects marine animals like seabirds, sea turtles, and whales by analyzing data from over 55,000 animals across 308 species. They found that when plastic debris in ocean water reaches about 52 kilograms per square kilometer, 20% of these species will have at least 1 in 10 animals eating plastic. This research helps us better measure the true environmental cost of plastic pollution, which matters because these same plastics that harm marine life can also end up in seafood we eat.
Plastic debris ingestion poses an important and escalating threat to marine biodiversity. This includes both impacts from macro- and from microplastics. For macroplastics, impacts can, for example, stem from entanglement or ingestion of plastic pieces. In sustainability assessment tools, such as Life cycle assessment (LCA), attempts to include impacts from entanglement exist. However, although ingestion has been extensively documented across taxa and ocean basins, this critical impact pathway remains largely absent from Life Cycle Assessment. To contribute to closing this gap, we developed a global effect factor (EF) that quantifies the potentially affected fraction (PAF) of species impacted by macro- and micro-plastic ingestion in marine air-breathing vertebrates (seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles).We compiled and harmonized population-level ingestion data from 284 peer-reviewed studies encompassing 308 species and over 55,000 individuals. Based on the known distribution ranges of individual species, exposure to floating marine plastic debris was estimated across eight major ocean basins. Species-specific dose–response relationships linking ingestion prevalence to plastic concentration were then established and used to construct a field-based Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD). From this, we derived a hazardous concentration affecting 20 % of species above a 10 % ingestion threshold (HC20 = 51.7 kg km⁻³) and a corresponding EF of 3.87 × 10⁻³ PAF km³ kg⁻¹.Sensitivity analyses confirmed that the EF remained consistent within the same order of magnitude under varying modeling assumptions, supporting its robustness and transferability. This EF enables the explicit inclusion of plastic ingestion impacts in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) as a new distinct pathway of physical harm, complementing existing models for entanglement and ingestion of microplastics.By translating empirical field data into a quantifiable biodiversity impact metric, our study provides an essential bridge between measurements, indicators, and decision-making tools. Integrating such metrics will enhance the capacity of sustainability assessments to reflect the true ecological costs of plastic pollution.
More Papers Like This
An effect factor for macro- and microplastic ingestion impacts on marine ecosystems for use in life cycle assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a global effect factor to quantify the fraction of marine air-breathing vertebrate species—mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles—potentially affected by macro- and microplastic ingestion, providing a tool to incorporate plastic impacts into Life Cycle Assessment.
A quantitative risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed over 10,000 necropsies of seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles to quantify the risk of death from swallowing large plastic debris. The study found that sea turtles faced the highest mortality rate at 4.4%, and the type of plastic mattered: rubber was most dangerous for seabirds, fishing debris for marine mammals, and soft plastics for sea turtles.
The impact of debris on marine life.
AI summary Read the abstract
A systematic review of 340 publications documented encounters between 693 marine species and debris, with 92% of interactions involving plastic and 17% involving microplastics. The review established marine debris — especially plastic — as a major, widespread threat to marine biodiversity through entanglement, ingestion, and habitat degradation.
Quantifying impacts of plastic debris on marine wildlife identifies ecological breakpoints
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a modeling approach to quantify how plastic ingestion affects the growth, reproduction, and population dynamics of marine wildlife, using loggerhead turtles as a test case. They found that having 3-25% plastics in digestive contents could reduce reproductive output by 10-88% compared to unaffected turtles. The study introduces a method for identifying ecological breakpoints where plastic pollution could cause population declines in affected species.
Frequency of plastic occurrence varies across phylogeny but not ecology in seabirds.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined plastic ingestion records from over 93,000 seabirds across 240 species. Plastic was found in 76% of species, with pelicans most affected and penguins least affected. A bird's family group, rather than its diet, feeding method, or body size, best predicted whether plastic was found.
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.