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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Testing and optimizing methodologies for microplastic extractions from owl pellets
ClearMicroplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems: A study using barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets
Researchers analyzed barn owl pellets as a non-invasive method to assess microplastic contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. The study found confirmed microplastics in 33% of pellets collected from three agricultural areas, with polyethylene terephthalate microfibres being the most common type, suggesting that barn owl pellet analysis could serve as a cost-effective monitoring tool for terrestrial microplastic pollution.
Microplastics in Urban Bird Feces: A Methodological Approach and Case Study in Mexico City
Researchers analyzed pigeon droppings from three sites in Mexico City and found 16 to 28 microplastic particles per gram, mostly fragments of polystyrene and polyethylene smaller than 1 millimeter. The study developed a reliable method for extracting microplastics from organic material with a 93% recovery rate. Urban birds like pigeons can serve as indicators of microplastic pollution levels in cities, reflecting the contamination that humans in those same areas are also exposed to.
A methodology for the sampling and identification of microplastics in bird nests
Researchers developed and tested a green (chemical-free) method to extract and identify microplastics from bird nests, finding an average of 250 microplastic items per nest in urban Great-tailed grackle nests, mostly synthetic polyethylene and polypropylene fibers. Bird nests offer a practical, non-invasive way to monitor microplastic contamination in urban and terrestrial environments.
Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
Researchers found evidence of microplastic contamination in barn owl pellets collected from two sites with different levels of human activity, marking the first such study of its kind. Several polymer types were identified in the pellets, indicating that microplastics are moving through terrestrial food chains to reach apex predators. The findings suggest that even wildlife in relatively natural landscapes is exposed to microplastic pollution through their prey.
Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Thrushes: Analysis for Monitoring Environmental Quality by Comparing Different and Innovative Extraction Techniques
Researchers developed and compared two innovative, cost-effective microplastic extraction techniques for thrush bird tissue, using birds as bioindicators to monitor environmental microplastic contamination through bioaccumulation analysis.
Microplastics presence in wild bird species through an environmental forensic lens
This study examined microplastic presence in wild bird species using an environmental forensics approach, finding plastic particles across multiple bird taxa in ecosystems ranging from urban to remote. The results highlight wild birds as both sentinels of and victims of plastic pollution.
The potential of aerial insectivores for monitoring microplastics in terrestrial environments
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in tree swallow chicks near a wastewater treatment plant and at a rural conservation area. They found anthropogenic microparticles, predominantly fibers, in nearly all chicks at both sites, suggesting that aerial insectivores could serve as useful biological monitors for tracking microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments.
The use of European shag pellets as indicators of microplastic fibers in the marine environment
Synthetic fibers were found in pellets regurgitated by European shag seabirds in northern Spain, providing a non-lethal method for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal marine environments. Seabird pellets could serve as a low-cost, repeatable indicator of local microplastic contamination.
Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
This study found microplastics in barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets collected at two sites in Portugal with different levels of human activity. As apex predators in terrestrial food chains, barn owls accumulate microplastics from the small mammals they eat, demonstrating that microplastic contamination extends through land-based food webs.
New techniques for the detection of microplastics in sediments and field collected organisms
Researchers developed new techniques for detecting microplastics in sediment samples and for collecting particles in the field, improving the reliability and sensitivity of methods used to monitor environmental microplastic contamination.
Development and Validation of an Efficient Method for Processing Microplastics in Biota Samples
A new one-step laboratory method was developed to efficiently digest and extract microplastics from mussel and fish tissue samples. Standardized extraction methods are critical for making microplastic studies comparable across different labs and species.
Differences in microplastics in passerine feces across species, diet, and foraging location
Researchers analyzed fecal samples from five passerine bird species and found microplastics in all of them, with ground-foraging species carrying higher particle loads and insectivores ingesting more fragment-shaped particles than omnivores — suggesting that feeding behavior and habitat determine which bird species face the greatest microplastic exposure risk.
Towards the suitable monitoring of ingestion of microplastics by marine biota: A review
This review assessed various monitoring methods for detecting microplastic ingestion by marine biota, comparing laboratory and field-based approaches. The authors recommend method selection based on organism type and research question and call for more consistent reporting standards to enable cross-study comparison.
Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods of Microplastics in Marine Organisms
This review synthesizes global data on microplastic occurrence and distribution across marine organisms, comparing the advantages and limitations of different extraction and identification methods used in the field.
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.
Various Digestion Protocols Within Microplastic Sample Processing—Evaluating the Resistance of Different Synthetic Polymers and the Efficiency of Biogenic Organic Matter Destruction
Multiple organic matter digestion protocols used in microplastic sample preparation were systematically evaluated for their effectiveness in removing biogenic material while preserving plastic particles. The review helps standardize sample processing by identifying which digestion chemicals and conditions work best for different environmental matrices.
Quality Criteria for the Analysis of Microplastic in Biota Samples: A Critical Review
Ten quality criteria were applied to review recent microplastic ingestion studies in aquatic biota, finding wide variation in methodological rigor including inadequate sample sizes, poor contamination controls, and inconsistent polymer identification methods. The authors propose a standardized quality assessment framework to improve comparability of microplastic ingestion data across studies.
Microplastic Extraction from Marine Vertebrate Digestive Tracts, Regurgitates and Scats: A Protocol for Researchers from All Experience Levels
This paper presents a standardized protocol for extracting and identifying microplastics from the digestive systems of marine vertebrates (mammals, birds, turtles, and fish). Having consistent, accessible methods is essential for generating comparable data on how much plastic wildlife across different species and regions are ingesting.
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.
Evaluation and optimisation of sample preparation protocols suitable for the analysis of plastic particles present in seafood
Ten digestion protocols for extracting microplastics from seafood were compared across a broad range of species, evaluating their ability to fully digest tissue without damaging polymer integrity, providing a basis for selecting suitable methods for human exposure assessment.
Unraveling Plastic Pollution in Protected Terrestrial Raptors Using Regurgitated Pellets
Regurgitated pellets from six protected raptor species in Spain contained microplastics and artificial fibers, with prevalence and composition varying by species and feeding ecology, providing the first evidence of plastic pollution in terrestrial birds of prey via their prey items.
Methodology optimization to quantify microplastic presence in planktonic copepods, chaetognaths and fish larvae
Researchers optimized a hydrogen peroxide digestion method for extracting and counting microplastics from zooplankton and fish larvae while preserving the physical and chemical integrity of the plastic particles, achieving over 85% recovery across 13 plastic types. Having a reliable, standardized method for quantifying microplastics in plankton is essential for accurately assessing how much plastic is entering marine food webs at the base of the food chain.
Optimization of an Analytical Protocol for the Extraction of Microplastics from Seafood Samples with Different Levels of Fat
Researchers optimized an analytical protocol for extracting microplastics from seafood samples with varying fat content, addressing a key methodological challenge in accurately quantifying microplastic contamination in marine food sources given the ubiquitous presence of plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in marine environments.
Validation of an extraction method for microplastics from human materials
Researchers validated an extraction method for isolating microplastics from human and animal tissues, confirming that the procedure does not cause significant alteration to the plastic particles themselves.