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Microplastics in long-eared owl (Asio otus) pellets: tracing contamination through prey
Summary
Analysis of 292 long-eared owl pellets from agricultural, steppe, and forest habitats in Turkey found microplastics in all habitat types, with fibers dominant and concentrations correlated with prey abundance and intensity of nearby human activity. This demonstrates that microplastics are moving through terrestrial food webs via small mammal prey, reaching top predators and confirming trophic transfer as a key exposure pathway even in wildlife far from direct pollution sources.
Microplastic pollution is a pervasive global environmental problem affecting ecosystems and pose a potential threat by entering the food chain. Due to their small size, microplastics are easily ingested by organisms at the base of the food web. Owls, as nocturnal predators, are vulnerable to microplastic bioaccumulation through their prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. This study investigates microplastic exposure in long-eared owls (Asio otus) by analyzing their pellet contents. A total of 292 pellets were collected from agricultural (n = 129), steppe (n = 116), and forest (n = 47) habitats in Ankara, Türkiye, over nine months. The most common microplastics found were fibers (78%), followed by films (14%) and fragments (8%), with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 4.4 mm. Microplastic distribution varied across habitats: 63% were found in steppe, 23% in agriculture, and 14% in forests particularly during non-breeding periods. The microplastics included polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and polypropylene (PP), among others. Harting’s vole was the primary rodent prey. A significant correlation was found between prey abundance and microplastic levels, suggesting trophic transfer through food webs. Microplastic concentrations were significantly higher in areas characterized by intensified anthropogenic activity. The study underscores the importance of protected areas with strict human activity regulations in reducing microplastic contamination, highlighting the need for targeted conservation and pollution management efforts to protect wildlife and ecosystems.