We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Pollution Status of the North-Central Selangor Coast as an Important Shorebirds Area
AI summary Read the abstract
The North-central Selangor coast in Malaysia faces escalating threats from heavy metals, microplastic pollution, coastal erosion, and climate change, with microplastics particularly concentrated during high tide when shorebirds conduct 70% of their foraging. This study highlights the intersection of microplastic exposure and shorebird conservation, emphasizing the need to address plastic pollution as an urgent threat to migratory waterbird populations at critical coastal habitats.
The North-central Selangor (NCSC) is one of the important IBA in Malaysia that holds over 50,000 migratory shorebirds including globally threatened and near -threatened species. Nonetheless, the NCSC is currently under a very high pressure or threat. For instance, heavy metal levels have been reported to increase significantly along the west coast of Malaysia. However, little studies have been done to highlight this issue in NCSC. Moreover, the lack of studies on emerging and new pollutants in the area is also concerning. Micro-plastics pollution should also be addressed as they are abundant during high tide, exposing the shorebirds as 70% of their foraging activity occurs at that time. The increase in pressure is mostly attributed to the anthropogenic activity and development along the NCSC area. Other issues faced by the shorebirds population in the area include coastal erosion, exposure to coal-by-product, land management and climate change. Similar challenges also occur within the region as such, understanding and solving the issues in NCSC would help improve conservation works in nearby areas too. Hence, suggestions to mitigate and improve the current issues are also presented.
More Papers Like This
Shorebird droppings analysis: Microplastics and heavy metals in a key conservation reserve and adjoining sand beaches in the west coast of India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed droppings from ten migratory shorebird species at a conservation reserve on India's west coast and found microplastics and heavy metals in samples from all species. The contamination levels varied by species and season, reflecting differences in diet and habitat use. Since shorebirds are top predators in coastal food webs, their contamination indicates widespread microplastic and heavy metal pollution throughout the coastal ecosystem.
Identification, Abundance, and Chemical Characterization of Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastics in the Intertidal Zone Sediments of Two Selected Beaches in Sabah, Malaysia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers identified and characterized macro-, meso-, and microplastics in intertidal sediments of two beaches in Sabah, Malaysia, finding significant plastic contamination with heavy metal associations that pose potential ecological risks to coastal environments.
Plastic pollution threatens shorebirds: a global review
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review summarizes global research on how plastic pollution threatens shorebirds through ingestion and entanglement. The findings highlight that microplastics are spreading throughout coastal ecosystems, and since shorebirds serve as indicators of environmental health, their contamination signals broader risks to the food webs that also affect human communities.
Review of contaminant levels and effects in shorebirds: Knowledge gaps and conservation priorities
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assessed contaminant levels and effects in shorebirds across 93 studies, finding significant knowledge gaps regarding microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and emerging pollutants, and identifying contamination as an understudied but important threat to declining shorebird populations.
Shorebirds ingest plastics too: what we know, what we do not know, and what we should do next
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesized existing knowledge on plastic ingestion by shorebirds, finding that despite high potential exposure through foraging in contaminated habitats, research on shorebird plastic ingestion remains limited and requires more systematic investigation.
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.