Papers

Current levels of microplastic pollution impact wild seabird gut microbiomes

Researchers studied wild seabirds and found that the amount of microplastics in their guts was linked to significant changes in their gut bacteria. Birds with more microplastics had fewer beneficial bacteria and more harmful ones, including disease-causing and antibiotic-resistant species. This is one of the first studies to show that real-world microplastic exposure is already altering gut microbiomes in wild animals.

Methylmercury sorption to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers and relevance to environmental exposure

Researchers measured how methylmercury, a toxic form of mercury, sticks to polyester (PET) microplastic fibers released from clothing. They found that while the fibers do absorb some mercury, the amount is about 10,000 times lower than what naturally occurs on tiny organisms at the base of the food web. This is actually reassuring news, suggesting that PET microplastic fibers in the environment do not significantly increase mercury exposure for organisms that accidentally eat them.

Why we need an international agreement on marine plastic pollution

This commentary argues for the establishment of an international agreement to address marine plastic pollution, noting that plastic debris including microplastics is a pervasive global threat to marine biodiversity, ecosystem services, and potentially human health. The authors highlight that existing regulatory frameworks are insufficient to manage the transboundary nature of the problem. The study calls for measurable reduction targets and coordinated international action to curb the flow of plastic into the world's oceans.

Monitoring litter and microplastics in Arctic mammals and birds

This review evaluates approaches for monitoring litter and microplastic ingestion in Arctic mammals and birds, assessing both the strengths and limitations of using wildlife as pollution indicators. Researchers found that while some species provide useful data on spatial and temporal pollution trends, monitoring programs need to be carefully designed to account for species-specific feeding behaviors and habitats. The study emphasizes the importance of standardized methods for tracking plastic pollution's impacts on Arctic biodiversity and the communities that rely on these animals for food.

Future Directions in Conservation Research on Petrels and Shearwaters

This review assembled 38 conservation researchers to summarize the major threats facing petrels and shearwaters, a group of seabirds where 41 percent of species are threatened. Researchers identified invasive species, bycatch, overfishing, light pollution, climate change, and pollution including microplastics as the six primary threats. The paper proposes future research directions and management strategies including habitat restoration, improved fisheries policies, and better monitoring of pollution impacts on these vulnerable seabird populations.

The effects of a microplastic mixture on wood frogs (<i>Rana sylvatica</i>) across multiple life stages in an outdoor mesocosm experiment

In a 96-day outdoor mesocosm experiment, researchers exposed wood frogs to a mixture of polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics across multiple life stages. The study found that microplastic exposure increased larval growth and delayed development at higher concentrations, and that microplastics were detected in the liver and muscle tissue, suggesting frogs may act as biovectors transferring microplastics between aquatic and terrestrial environments.

A global review of contaminants in True Geese

Researchers conducted a global review of contaminants found in true geese (genera Anser and Branta), compiling data from 56 journal articles and other sources published between 2000 and 2024. The study found that geese face relatively low risk from most legacy pesticides and metals, with lead being a notable exception, and identified emerging contaminants including microplastics that warrant further monitoring.

How much should we care about insect–plastic interactions?

This review examines the complex interactions between insects and plastic pollution, covering how insects encounter, ingest, and are affected by microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment. Researchers also explored the potential role of certain insect species in degrading plastic waste. The study highlights that while insects may contribute to plastic breakdown, their exposure to plastic particles poses ecological risks that warrant further investigation.

Shorebirds ingest plastics too: what we know, what we do not know, and what we should do next

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.

Recommended best practices for plastic and litter ingestion studies in marine birds: Collection, processing, and reporting

This paper proposed standardized best practices for sampling, processing, and reporting plastic ingestion in marine birds, aiming to improve consistency across studies and enable meaningful large-scale comparisons.

Quantifying ingested debris in marine megafauna: a review and recommendations for standardization

This review examined published methods for quantifying ingested plastic debris in marine megafauna — including whales, turtles, and sharks — and found wide variation in reporting practices. The authors propose standardized protocols for sample collection, processing, and data reporting to enable meaningful comparisons across species and regions.

Breeding seabirds as vectors of microplastics from sea to land: Evidence from colonies in Arctic Canada

Breeding seabirds were studied as potential vectors transporting microplastics from the sea to land via regurgitation and excretion at colony sites. Evidence from colony soils confirmed that seabirds transfer marine-sourced microplastics to terrestrial environments, with colony sites accumulating elevated microplastic concentrations compared to surrounding habitats.

Co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic

Researchers analyzed the co-contaminants of microplastics ingested by northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes from the Canadian Arctic, finding that fulmars had higher plastic loads and greater concentrations of plastic additive compounds, while kittiwakes had higher legacy persistent organic pollutants. Fulmars with larger foraging ranges carried the highest overall contaminant burdens, suggesting they act as long-range transport vectors for plastic-associated pollution.

Microplastics around an Arctic seabird colony: Particle community composition varies across environmental matrices

Microplastic particle communities were characterized across multiple environmental matrices around an Arctic seabird colony, finding that matrix type strongly influenced particle composition, with air, water, sediment, and bird samples each showing distinct microplastic signatures.

Garbage in guano? Microplastic debris found in faecal precursors of seabirds known to ingest plastics

Microplastics including fibers and fragments were detected in faecal precursors (pellets) from seabirds known to ingest plastics, providing non-lethal evidence of plastic ingestion that could be used in monitoring programs. The method offers a practical way to assess plastic ingestion in protected seabird species without requiring destructive sampling.

Changes in the microbiome and associated host tissue structure in the blue mussel (<i>Mytilus edulis</i>) following exposure to polystyrene microparticles

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations found in coastal waters showed reduced microbiome diversity in digestive gland and gill tissues at high exposure levels, along with altered host tissue structure. The co-disruption of the microbiome and host tissues suggests that MP exposure can degrade the symbiotic relationships that support mussel health.

Fuzzy cognitive mapping as a tool to assess the relative cumulative effects of environmental stressors on an Arctic seabird population to identify conservation action and research priorities

A fuzzy cognitive mapping approach with Arctic seabird experts identified mining and oil extraction (22% total influence) and hunting and fishing (18%) as the strongest cumulative stressors on northern fulmar populations in Canada, with plastic pollution also identified as a significant contributor.

Why do we monitor? Using seabird eggs to track trends in Arctic environmental contamination

Researchers analyzed nearly 50 years of contaminant monitoring data from Arctic seabird eggs, finding that while legacy POPs like PCBs have declined since the 1970s, emerging contaminants such as PFAS and flame retardants have increased, validating seabird eggs as long-term pollution indicators.

Petroleum-based and biodegradable microplastics alter tissue structure and fecundity in the eastern mudsnail (<i>Ilyanassa obsoleta</i>)

Researchers found that both petroleum-based and biodegradable (PLA) microplastics caused tissue damage to the digestive gland and reduced fecundity in eastern mudsnails at high exposures, with environmentally relevant concentrations of petroleum-based microplastics already inducing subtle but significant histological changes.

Marine birds and plastic debris in Canada: a national synthesis and a way forward

This national synthesis reviews available data on marine plastic ingestion by seabirds in Canada, finding that systematic monitoring began only in the mid-2000s and that significant data gaps remain regarding ingestion prevalence, intensity, and health effects across most Canadian marine regions. Researchers propose a coordinated national monitoring framework using standardized protocols aligned with international programs.

Future monitoring of litter and microplastics in the Arctic—challenges, opportunities, and strategies

Researchers outlined the key challenges and future strategies for long-term monitoring of litter and microplastics in the Arctic, identifying gaps in standardization, data harmonization, knowledge of transport pathways, and environmental impact thresholds that must be addressed for effective pollution tracking.

Examining Ingested Microplastics in Fish: Considerations on Filter Pore Size, Analysis Time, and Material Costs to Design Cost-Effective Projects

Examining Ingested Microplastics in Fish: Considerations on Filter Pore Size, Analysis Time, and Material Costs to Design Cost-Effective Projects

Examining ingested microplastics in fish: Considerations on filter pore size, analysis time, and material costs to design cost-effective projects

Researchers compared two methods for isolating microplastics from fish gastrointestinal tracts using Icelandic capelin, evaluating different filter pore sizes to assess tradeoffs between data quality, analysis time, and material costs for designing cost-effective monitoring projects.