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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Short Communication: Marine litter ingestion by a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in Mindanao, Philippines, and the need for consistent long-term recording of single-individual strandings
ClearEvaluating the Presence of Marine Litter in Cetaceans Stranded in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean Sea)
Researchers performed necropsies on cetaceans stranded in the Balearic Islands of the western Mediterranean Sea, documenting for the first time the presence, types, and quantities of ingested and entangled plastic marine litter, contributing evidence on plastic debris impacts to cetacean populations in this region.
Plastic pollution and ocean giants: Investigating the extent and impacts of plastic ingestion by marine megafauna
This review examined the extent to which large ocean-going animals such as whales and whale sharks ingest and are harmed by plastic pollution, synthesizing data from stranding records and feeding observations. The evidence indicates that plastic ingestion is widespread among ocean giants, with documented cases of mortality and sublethal effects.
Cetaceans and Marine Debris: The Great Unknown
This review examines evidence for plastic and marine debris ingestion and entanglement in cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), finding that while cases of illness and death from plastic ingestion have been documented, many questions about the extent of the problem remain unanswered. The authors call for better standardized reporting to understand the true scale of marine debris impacts on these animals.
Plastic ingestion by harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena in the Netherlands: Establishing a standardised method
Researchers examined the stomachs of over 650 harbour porpoises from the Netherlands and found that the rate of plastic ingestion was more than double (15% vs 7%) when a dedicated, standardized detection protocol was used compared to routine inspection. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common plastic types found, and the litter appeared to be accidentally swallowed while the animals fed near the sea floor.
Tools and constraints in monitoring interactions between marine litter and megafauna: Insights from case studies around the world
Researchers synthesized case studies from seven global monitoring programs on marine litter interactions with megafauna — including fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals — examining both macro-debris entanglement and microplastic ingestion, and discussed the critical need for standardized assessment methods to support international environmental policy.
Marine litter: One of the major threats for marine mammals. Outcomes from the European Cetacean Society workshop
This European Cetacean Society workshop review compiled expert knowledge on the impacts of marine litter on marine mammals, finding that plastic ingestion and entanglement negatively affect a wide range of cetacean species globally. Researchers identified critical data gaps and recommended standardised monitoring protocols to better quantify mortality and sub-lethal effects.
Microplastics in fecal samples of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and from surface water in the Philippines
Researchers documented microplastic ingestion by whale sharks in the Philippines through fecal sample analysis and compared it with surface water contamination, providing direct evidence that these filter-feeding megafauna ingest microplastics in a recognized pollution hotspot.
Interactions between marine megafauna and plastic pollution in Southeast Asia
Researchers reviewed published cases of marine megafauna — including sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds — entangled in or having ingested plastics across Southeast Asia, a region that contributes roughly a third of global marine plastic pollution. Despite the scale of the problem, scientific documentation of plastic impacts on wildlife in the region remains far behind other parts of the world, highlighting a critical data gap.
Plastic ingestion by two cetacean groups: Ziphiidae and Delphinidae
Researchers combined field data and historical records on plastic ingestion across 623 stranded cetaceans globally, finding that beaked whales accumulate more macro-, meso-, and microplastics than striped dolphins — likely due to deep-diving feeding behavior — with the highest concentrations in the Western Pacific and Eastern Spain respectively.
Cetaceans as Ocean Health Indicators of Marine Litter Impact at Global Scale
This review synthesized global evidence on how marine litter, including both macro- and micro-scale plastic, impacts cetacean species through entanglement and ingestion. It called for better understanding of current and predicted impacts to inform conservation measures for whale and dolphin populations.
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.
Microplastics in large marine animals stranded in the Republic of Korea
Researchers analyzed microplastics in the digestive tracts of 12 stranded marine animals in South Korea, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, and sea turtles, detecting microplastic contamination across all species examined between 2019 and 2021.
Analysis of Cetacean Strandings Along the Moroccan Mediterranean Coast: Spatial and Temporal Patterns
Researchers analyzed 187 cetacean stranding events along the Moroccan Mediterranean coast from 2016 to 2024, finding 14 species affected — predominantly toothed whales — with bycatch, ship strikes, and marine pollution (including plastics) among the leading identified mortality causes.
Are baleen whales exposed to the threat of microplastics? A case study of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
This case study estimated how many microplastics Mediterranean fin whales and basking sharks might ingest through filter feeding, using feeding rate data and measured microplastic concentrations. The study raised concern that large filter feeders accumulate significant plastic loads and that the associated chemical burden from sorbed pollutants may pose health risks to these protected species.
Marine Mammals and Interactions with Debris in the Northeastern Atlantic Region: Synthesis and Recommendations for Monitoring and Research
This synthesis reviews what is known about interactions between marine mammals in the northeastern Atlantic and plastic debris, including ingestion and entanglement. The authors identify data gaps and recommend standardized monitoring approaches to better understand and mitigate plastic impacts on whales, dolphins, and seals.
Large filter feeding marine organisms as indicators of microplastic in the pelagic environment: The case studies of the Mediterranean basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
This study investigated whether baleen whales and basking sharks — large filter feeders — ingest microplastics in the Mediterranean and found evidence that both species are exposed to plastic contamination through their filtration feeding behavior. The authors used feeding ecology modeling to estimate plastic ingestion rates and identify associated toxicological risks.
Microplastics Prevalence in Different Cetaceans Stranded along the Western Taiwan Strait
Researchers examined microplastic prevalence in nine stranded cetaceans of four species along the Western Taiwan Strait, including common dolphins and pygmy sperm whales. Microplastics were detected in the majority of animals, with fibers as the dominant type, highlighting widespread plastic ingestion by apex marine predators in this region.
Contribution of social media to cetacean research in Southeast Asia: illuminating populations vulnerable to litter
Researchers used social media data to identify cetacean (whale and dolphin) sightings and entanglement with marine litter in Southeast Asia, filling critical knowledge gaps about plastic pollution impacts on marine mammals. The study shows social media can be a valuable tool for conservation research in regions with limited scientific monitoring.
Pathological findings in stranded harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) with special focus on anthropogenic causes
Post-mortem examination of 612 harbor porpoises stranded in the Netherlands between 2008 and an unspecified end year revealed that anthropogenic causes including bycatch, vessel strikes, and entanglement were among the leading causes of death. The surveillance program identified plastic ingestion in a subset of animals and highlighted the North Sea as a high-risk environment for this sentinel species.
Microplastic in a macro filter feeder: Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Researchers documented the first confirmed presence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of a baleen whale (humpback whale), finding multiple polymer types including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET in particle sizes from 1 mm to 17 cm, reflecting both the diversity of marine plastic pollution and the unselective filter-feeding strategy of these large marine mammals.
Pathologic findings and causes of death of stranded cetaceans in the Canary Islands (2006-2012)
The causes of death of 224 cetaceans stranded on the Canary Islands between 2006 and 2012 were determined by necropsy, with natural causes (good nutritional status, 33.6%) and nutritional stress (23.5%) being most common, but foreign body-related pathology (including plastic ingestion) identified as a cause of death in a subset of animals. The study provides forensic evidence that plastic ingestion contributes to cetacean mortality in this eastern Atlantic region.
Association of ocean macroplastic debris with stranded sea turtles in the Central Gulf of Thailand
Researchers retrospectively analyzed records of 388 stranded sea turtles in the Central Gulf of Thailand from 2017-2020 and examined macroplastics from the gastrointestinal tracts of 30 dead turtles and 13 beaches, finding that green turtles (Chelonia mydas) comprised the majority of strandings and that plastic ingestion and entanglement were significant mortality factors.
Understanding individual and population-level effects of plastic pollution on marine megafauna
Researchers reviewed 50 years of published studies on how plastic pollution affects marine megafauna including seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles at both individual and population levels. While numerous individual-level effects were documented, including starvation, injury, and reproductive impairment from entanglement and ingestion, no study provided direct evidence of population-level declines. The study highlights a critical gap in understanding whether the widespread individual harm from plastic pollution is translating into measurable population consequences for these species.
Marine litter, microplastics and marine megafauna
This review examines the entanglement and ingestion of marine litter, particularly plastic, by megafauna including whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds. It documents how both large plastic debris and microplastics threaten charismatic marine species through physical injury, starvation, and toxicological effects.