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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Passing plastic: traces of plastic in the fecal samples of a high Arctic seabird in Tunu (East Greenland)
ClearEvaluation of meso- and microplastic ingestion by the northern fulmar through a non-lethal sampling method
Using a non-lethal stomach flushing method on Arctic fulmars at Svalbard, researchers found plastics in only three of 22 birds — much lower burdens than previously reported — but identified a key methodological limitation: the technique misses plastics accumulated in the gizzard where most plastic concentrates. The study is valuable for showing that repeated, non-lethal sampling of the same individuals over time is possible, which could improve long-term plastic ingestion monitoring in seabirds.
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.
Microplastic pollution in the Greenland Sea: Background levels and selective contamination of planktivorous diving seabirds
Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in the Greenland Sea, studying both surface water samples and planktivorous diving seabirds. The study found that despite being far from major pollution sources, the Arctic contains measurable microplastic levels and that seabirds in the region are selectively contaminated, confirming the widespread reach of microplastic pollution.
Plastic and other anthropogenic debris in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) faeces from Iceland
Researchers examined fecal samples from Arctic foxes in Iceland across multiple years and regions and found plastic debris in about 5% of samples, but concluded that while foxes encounter plastic pollution, their feces are an imperfect monitoring tool because the source of ingested plastics — marine or terrestrial — is difficult to determine.
Microplastics in faeces of European shags Gulosus aristotelis in central Norway
Researchers analyzed microplastics in 36 fecal samples from European shag chicks in central Norway to quantify egested microplastics using a non-lethal sampling method. Microplastics were detected in the majority of samples, dominated by fibers, confirming that seabirds in Norwegian coastal waters are routinely ingesting plastic debris.
Seabirds from the poles: microplastics pollution sentinels
Researchers reviewed four decades of studies on microplastic ingestion by seabirds in Arctic and Antarctic regions, covering at least 13 species. They found that polar seabirds regularly ingest microplastics, with polyethylene being the most common type detected. The study highlights that even some of the most remote ecosystems on Earth are not immune to plastic pollution.
Monk seal faeces as a non-invasive technique to monitor the incidence of ingested microplastics and potential presence of plastic additives
Researchers used a non-invasive technique to collect and analyze monk seal fecal samples for microplastic contamination, marking the first time this approach has been used for this endangered species. They found microplastic particles in the samples along with plastic additives and biomarkers indicating dietary exposure. The method offers a practical way to monitor microplastic ingestion in protected marine mammals without disturbing the animals.
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.
Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
Researchers analyzed stomach contents of three Antarctic penguin species for microplastics and other anthropogenic particles, finding MPs in all three species and suggesting that penguins could serve as biological samplers to track plastic pollution trends in remote polar waters.
Life starts with plastic: High occurrence of plastic pieces in fledglings of northern fulmars
Researchers found that 100% of northern fulmar fledglings examined from Svalbard in the Eurasian Arctic had ingested plastic, averaging 46 particles per bird. The most common plastics were white polyethylene fragments, with microplastics slightly outnumbering larger mesoplastics. The study suggests that fulmar fledglings may serve as effective indicators for monitoring plastic pollution trends over time.
Plastics in stomachs of northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis collected at sea off east Greenland: latitude, age, sex and season
Researchers analyzed stomachs from 145 northern fulmars (seabirds) hunted off east Greenland and found plastic in 86% of birds, with an average of 13.5 particles per stomach — well above international policy targets. The study also found that younger birds and females contained more plastic, likely due to differences in how much time they spend at sea where plastic accumulates.
Using a non‐invasive technique to identify suspected microplastics in grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) living in the western North Sea
Faecal samples from living wild grey seals in the western North Sea were analyzed for suspected microplastics, representing the first non-invasive record of microplastic exposure in this wild pinniped population. The study demonstrates that faecal analysis can provide indirect evidence of microplastic ingestion in free-ranging marine mammals without requiring capture or euthanasia.
An assessment of microplastics in fecal samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Canada's North
Researchers assessed the potential for plastic ingestion in polar bears from Canada by analyzing fecal samples, first validating protocols to confirm reliable microplastic recovery from bear feces. Microplastics including films, foam, and fragments were detected in polar bear feces, providing the first evidence of plastic ingestion by this Arctic apex predator.
Understanding the occurrence and fate of microplastics in coastal Arctic ecosystems: The case of surface waters, sediments and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
This holistic study examined microplastics in Arctic surface waters, sediments, and walrus tissues in coastal Svalbard, detecting plastics across all compartments and documenting for the first time microplastic occurrence in walrus gastrointestinal tracts.
Seabirds as indicators of distribution, trends and population level effects of plastics in the Arctic marine environment. Workshop Report
This workshop report examines the use of seabirds as indicators of plastic and microplastic pollution in Arctic marine environments, summarizing current monitoring methods and knowledge gaps. Seabirds accumulate plastics through ingestion, making them useful sentinels for tracking pollution trends.
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.
Elevated levels of ingested plastic in a high Arctic seabird, the northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Researchers found that 87.5% of northern fulmars — seabirds nesting in the high Arctic near Svalbard — had plastic in their stomachs, exceeding pollution thresholds set for European seas. The finding is alarming because it shows plastic contamination has reached even the remote Arctic, raising urgent concerns as commercial shipping routes in the region expand.
Quantification of plankton-sized microplastics in a productive coastal Arctic marine ecosystem
Researchers quantified microplastics down to 10 μm in marine waters near Nuuk, Greenland using a new plastic-free pump-filter system, finding median concentrations of 142 MPs per cubic meter in surface waters and 0.12 MPs per cubic meter by bongo net tows in this productive Arctic coastal ecosystem.
Pellets and Prey Remains as Indicators of the Diet of Two Sympatric Skuas (aves: Stercorariidae) on King George Island, Antarctica
Researchers analyzed pellets and prey remains from two species of Antarctic skuas to understand their feeding habits. This type of dietary study in polar seabirds can reveal whether marine predators are inadvertently ingesting microplastics along with their prey.
Microplastics in gentoo penguins from the Antarctic region
Microplastic particles were found in the digestive tracts of gentoo penguins sampled from the Antarctic region, adding to evidence that even the remote Southern Ocean ecosystem is contaminated with plastic pollution. The study raises concerns about how microplastic ingestion may affect the health and foraging efficiency of Antarctic seabirds.
Seabirds from the poles: microplastics pollution sentinels
Scientists reviewed studies showing that seabirds in the Arctic and Antarctica are eating tiny plastic pieces called microplastics, with birds containing an average of 7-35 plastic fragments per sample. This matters because these remote polar regions were once considered pristine, but plastic pollution has now reached even these far-off places through ocean currents and wind. Since seabirds are early warning signs of environmental health, their contamination suggests that plastic pollution is spreading everywhere in our oceans and food webs.
Microplastics in the Arctic: A case study with sub-surface water and fish samples off Northeast Greenland
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in sub-surface water and two mid-trophic level fish species off Northeast Greenland, finding synthetic particles in both water samples and fish stomachs. The study demonstrates that even remote Arctic ecosystems are not free from microplastic pollution, with fibers being the most commonly detected particle type.
Analysis of microplastics in the fjords of Tunu (East Greenland)
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the fjords of East Greenland, an area with very limited prior data on Arctic plastic pollution. They found microplastic concentrations ranging from 1 to 12 particles per liter, with the highest levels near the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was overwhelmingly the dominant polymer type, accounting for an average of 96% of all particles detected.
Sensibilité d’un oiseau marin arctique aux changements environnementaux
This French doctoral thesis studied how an Arctic seabird — the little auk — is affected by environmental changes including warming temperatures, altered prey availability, and increasing anthropogenic pollution such as microplastics in the Arctic. The research helps understand cumulative threats facing Arctic wildlife as climate change opens the region to more human activity.