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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to First report on the detection of microplastics from the feathers of black-tailed gulls in South Korea
ClearPlastic debris ingestion by seabirds on the Korean Peninsula
Researchers examined plastic ingestion in 387 seabirds of 11 species on the Korean Peninsula and found the highest frequency in Swinhoe's storm petrels (93.7%), with plastic characteristics varying by species feeding ecology, providing baseline data for monitoring marine debris impacts in East Asian waters.
Species-specific accumulation of microplastics in different bird species from South China: A comprehensive analysis
Across 24 bird species in South China, insectivorous birds accumulated significantly more small microplastics (under 0.1 mm) than other feeding guilds, while piscivorous birds accumulated more large microplastics (over 1 mm). Diet source was a stronger predictor of microplastic contamination than trophic level or body weight, with polypropylene and PET as the dominant polymer types found.
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.
Micro- and mesoplastic contaminants in marine diving ducks: A first assessments from the coast of Japan
Researchers conducted the first assessment of plastic contamination in two species of mollusk-eating seaducks wintering along Japan's Pacific coast and found microplastics in all ten birds examined. The vast majority of particles were tiny fragments under 200 micrometers, a size class previously overlooked in seaduck studies, suggesting these birds ingest microplastics primarily through their contaminated prey.
Exposure to microplastics by pelagic and coastal seabirds from temperate and tropical environments
Researchers examined microplastic exposure in pelagic and coastal seabird species from temperate and tropical marine environments, using the birds' broad spatial distribution and feeding behavior to assess microplastic distribution and concentration patterns across oceanic regions.
Microplastic abundance in gull nests in relation to urbanization
Microplastic counts in herring gull and great black-backed gull nests at three US colonies showed higher proportions of microplastics in urban nests than in remote ones, linking urbanization to greater microplastic accumulation in coastal bird nesting habitats.
Characterization of plastic ingestion in urban gull chicks and its implications for their use as pollution sentinels in coastal cities
Researchers examined the stomach contents of 56 yellow-legged gull chicks in Barcelona and found microplastics in 100% of the birds, with larger plastic pieces in about 20%. The chicks ingested plastics from their urban coastal environment, mostly fragments and fibers from common consumer plastics. This study shows how urban wildlife can serve as indicators of plastic pollution levels and highlights the widespread contamination of coastal food webs that humans also depend on.
Microplastic Pollution in Penguins from Antarctic Peninsula
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in penguins from the Antarctic Peninsula, examining the presence and characteristics of plastic particles in these seabirds as indicators of contamination in one of the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.
Plastic debris in marine birds from an island located in the South China Sea
Plastic debris including microplastics was found in the digestive tracts of seabirds from a South China Sea island, with blue plastic threads accounting for most of the contamination. Seabirds are sensitive indicators of ocean plastic pollution, and this study adds to global evidence of marine birds ingesting microplastics worldwide.
Microplastics in feces and pellets from yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia (NW Spain)
Researchers found microplastics in feces and pellets from yellow-legged gulls nesting in the Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia, Spain, detecting particles of five shapes with polypropylene as the dominant polymer. The study provides baseline microplastic contamination data for this ecologically important seabird in a protected coastal area.
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.
Microplastic accumulation in various bird species in Turkey
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 12 bird species in Turkey, providing the first data of its kind for the country. They found microplastics in all species examined, with variations in particle types and concentrations across different birds. The study contributes to the growing evidence that microplastic pollution affects wildlife across diverse habitats and feeding strategies.
Microplastics in Seabird Feces from Coastal Areas of Central Chile
Researchers analyzed fecal samples from Dominican gulls, Magellanic penguins, and Humboldt penguins in coastal Chile for microplastic content, finding microplastics in all three species. The results document microplastic ingestion by multiple seabird species in Chilean coastal ecosystems, reflecting ocean contamination in the southeastern Pacific.
Marine debris ingestion by adults and fledglings of Swinhoe's storm petrels in the Republic of Korea
Researchers analyzed stomach contents of stranded Swinhoe's storm petrel carcasses from a Korean breeding colony and found that both adults and fledglings ingested predominantly microplastics, with juveniles consuming more plastic by weight than adults and the two age groups ingesting different particle shapes, suggesting separate foraging behaviors.
The hidden cost of following currents: Microplastic ingestion in a planktivorous seabird
Researchers documented microplastic ingestion in Mediterranean storm petrels, finding that these planktivorous seabirds ingest microplastics while foraging in pelagic areas where plastic debris accumulates alongside their planktonic prey in ocean currents.
Microplastics and organic pollutants in stranded northern gannet (Morus bassanus) from Southern Spain
Researchers conducted the first comprehensive assessment of plastic ingestion and organic pollutant exposure in northern gannets stranded along the southern Spanish coast. The study found that 88% of the 42 birds examined had ingested plastics, with microplastics dominating the debris, and transparent fibers being the most common type, alongside measurable levels of persistent organic pollutants in muscle tissue.
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.
Seabirds in a flap: The ingestion of meso/macro marine debris, microplastics and oil/tar by marine and coastal birds in the United Arab Emirates
Researchers documented the first published data on solid marine debris, microplastic, and oil ingestion by seabirds in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, finding that multiple coastal and marine bird species in the Middle East regularly ingest plastic particles and petroleum residues.
Assessment of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) from a metropolitan city Lahore, Pakistan
Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of cattle egrets from Lahore, Pakistan, and found significant levels of microplastics, with sheets and fibers being the most abundant types. Chemical analysis identified polyvinyl alcohol, polyisobutylene, and polyaramid as the main polymer compounds present. The findings indicate that even semi-aquatic bird species in urban environments are accumulating concerning levels of microplastic contamination.
Varying abundance of microplastics in tissues associates with different foraging strategies of coastal shorebirds in the Yellow Sea
This study examined microplastic accumulation in different shorebird species along China's Yellow Sea coast. Researchers found that the amount and type of microplastics in bird tissues varied depending on each species' feeding strategy, with bottom-feeding birds accumulating more particles. The findings indicate that foraging behavior is an important factor in determining microplastic exposure risk for wildlife.
Prey choice and ingestion of microplastics by common shelducks and common eiders in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site
Researchers found microplastic contamination in over 92% of stomach samples and 74–86% of fecal samples from common eiders and common shelducks in the Wadden Sea, with plastic filaments under 5mm dominating, suggesting widespread and near-universal ingestion by these coastal seabirds.
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 pollution exposure in seabirds : from macroplastics to microplastics
A French PhD thesis quantified plastic pollution exposure in yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) across the western Mediterranean, finding microplastics (10 µm–1 mm) in nearly all examined birds, with an average of ~39 mg of plastic per bird including ~8.5 mg of small microplastics. The work developed a new tissue-level microplastic quantification protocol for vertebrates, and shows that seabirds near landfills and agricultural areas carry the heaviest plastic burdens — suggesting land-based waste management directly controls wildlife microplastic exposure.
First evidence of microplastics and their characterization in yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis michahellis, Naumann, 1840) pellets collected from the Sfax salina, southeastern Tunisia
Researchers found microplastics in regurgitated pellets of yellow-legged gulls from a Tunisian saltwater lagoon, with 309 particles identified including 63.8 percent fibers and 36.2 percent fragments. Micro-FTIR analysis revealed that artificial cellulose dominated fiber composition, while ethylene vinyl acetate was among the plastic types detected.