Papers

Important questions to progress science and sustainable management of anguillid eels

A team of 30 eel experts reviewed the current state of knowledge about anguillid eels worldwide and identified critical research gaps across their lifecycle, the threats they face, and management strategies. The study notes that pollution, including microplastics, is among the many threats contributing to population declines in these ecologically important fish. Researchers emphasize that without better international coordination and adaptive management, the outlook for many eel species remains concerning.

Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory?

Researchers examined the entire digestive tracts of 50 stranded marine mammals from 10 species around the British coast and found microplastics in every single animal. However, the relatively low particle counts suggest that microplastics may pass through the gut rather than accumulate permanently. The findings indicate that microplastic ingestion is ubiquitous among marine mammals, though the long-term health consequences remain unclear.

The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the transboundary Ganges River

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic abundance along a 2,575-kilometer stretch of the Ganges River across pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The study found that fibers comprised 91% of microplastics, with higher concentrations before the monsoon, and estimates that the combined Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system could release 1 to 3 billion microplastic particles into the Bay of Bengal every day.

The distribution and characterisation of microplastics in air, surface water and sediment within a major river system

Researchers conducted the first simultaneous comparison of microplastic pollution in air, water, and river sediment along the entire length of the Ganges River system. They found microplastics present in all three environmental compartments, with the highest concentrations in sediment, suggesting rivers act as long-term sinks. The study provides important baseline data for understanding how microplastics move through major river systems from source to sea.

Large amounts of marine debris found in sperm whales stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016

Researchers examined 22 of the 30 sperm whales that mass-stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016 and found marine debris — including fishing nets, ropes, plastic packaging, and a car part — in nine individuals, documenting the extent of large-item debris exposure in an apex marine predator even when ingested items were not the direct cause of death.

Reaching New Heights in Plastic Pollution—Preliminary Findings of Microplastics on Mount Everest

Commercially important mangrove crabs are more susceptible to microplastic contamination than other brachyuran species

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in four species of brachyuran crabs from mangrove habitats in Malaysia's Setiu Wetlands. The study found that commercially important mud crabs (Scylla olivacea) accumulated significantly more microplastics than other species due to their carnivorous feeding behavior, with higher contamination levels during dry seasons when reduced water circulation limited pollutant dispersal.

Turning the tide on plastic pollution in St Helena and Ascension Island

Researchers assessed the scale and sources of plastic pollution on St Helena and Ascension Island, two remote UK overseas territories that have designated their entire exclusive economic zones as marine protected areas. Despite their remoteness, both islands accumulate ocean-transported plastic debris, challenging the assumption that MPA designation alone protects coastal environments from pollution.

Microplastic exposure increases predictability of predator avoidance strategies in hermit crabs

Researchers exposed European hermit crabs to microplastics and found the crabs became less cautious and more predictable in their predator-avoidance behavior, reducing their overall variation in response times. This behavioral shift suggests microplastic pollution may make these crabs more vulnerable to predation in the wild.

London's river of plastic: High levels of microplastics in the Thames water column

Microplastic concentrations in the River Thames water column were among the highest recorded globally, at about 25 particles per cubic meter at Putney and 14 at Greenwich, with polyethylene and polypropylene the dominant types. Concentrations varied significantly by site, tide, depth, and season, reflecting the dynamic nature of plastic pollution in a major urban river.

Challenges and priorities for river cetacean conservation

This review synthesizes 280 studies on river cetacean conservation, identifying habitat degradation, bycatch, vessel strikes, and pollution — including plastic contamination — as the primary threats to freshwater dolphin and porpoise populations in China, South Asia, and South America.

The SORTEE guidelines for data and code quality control in ecology and evolutionary biology

Scientists created new guidelines to help make sure research data and computer code are properly checked before studies get published. Many scientific journals require researchers to share their data, but the quality has been poor and other scientists often can't reproduce the results. These guidelines give editors a clear checklist to verify research quality, which should lead to more trustworthy science that people can rely on for important decisions.

Message in a bottle: Open source technology to track the movement of plastic pollution

Researchers tracked individual 500 ml PET plastic bottles released into the Ganges River system using open-source GPS and satellite technology to study how plastic debris moves through river systems before reaching the ocean. The study demonstrated the feasibility of using animal-tracking technology to follow plastic items through complex riparian environments, providing new insights into inland plastic transport pathways.

No escape from microplastics: Contamination of reef manta ray feeding areas in a remote, protected archipelago

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) feeding areas within a remote, protected archipelago, finding that even isolated marine protected areas are not free from microplastic pollution, raising concerns about filter-feeding marine megafauna in decline.

Pathways towards a sustainable future envisioned by early‐career conservation researchers

A survey of early-career conservation researchers found strong support for systemic solutions to the environmental crisis, including addressing consumption patterns and corporate accountability. The next generation of scientists is pushing for bolder action on pollution, biodiversity loss, and sustainability.

Report of the Pollution 2025 - Cumulative Effects - Multiple Stressors IWC Intersessional Workshop

This report summarizes proceedings and findings from the IWC Intersessional Workshop on Pollution 2025, focusing on cumulative effects and multiple stressors on cetacean populations, including plastic pollution, chemical contaminants, and their interactions with other environmental pressures.

Dataset of microplastics in the mangrove brachyuran crabs at Setiu Wetlands, Peninsular Malaysia

This dataset documents microplastic contamination found in four species of mangrove crabs with different feeding habits at Setiu Wetlands in Malaysia. The data reveal that microplastics accumulate in these crabs regardless of feeding strategy, indicating widespread contamination in mangrove ecosystems.