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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Prey choice and ingestion of microplastics by common shelducks and common eiders in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site
ClearMicro- 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.
Size and dynamics of microplastic in gastrointestinal tracts of Northern Fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis ) and Sooty Shearwaters ( Ardenna grisea )
Researchers examined microplastic in the gastrointestinal tracts of 143 Northern Fulmars and 25 Sooty Shearwaters stranded on Oregon and Washington beaches, finding plastic in 89.5% and 64% of birds respectively, with larger particles concentrated in the stomach's upper chamber and no significant reduction in plastic load in birds held in a plastic-free rehabilitation environment for up to seven days.
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 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 ingestion: Are seabirds more affected than other marine species?
This review examines whether seabirds ingest plastic more frequently than other marine species, finding they are among the most affected groups with high rates of plastic ingestion documented across species. The review discusses factors including foraging behavior, habitat, and ocean plastic concentrations that explain why seabirds are particularly vulnerable.
Availability and assessment of microplastic ingestion by marsh birds in Mississippi Gulf Coast tidal marshes
Microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of marsh birds from tidal marshes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with ingestion rates and particle types reflecting both direct feeding on contaminated prey and incidental consumption from the environment.
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.
Documentation of Microplastics in Tissues of Wild Coastal Animals
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in organs and tissues of fish, seabirds, and marine and terrestrial mammals from a polluted coastal area near Bergen, Norway. They found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and other organs of multiple species, with polymer types and concentrations varying across animals. The study provides important baseline data on microplastic accumulation in wild coastal species relevant to human food chains.
Presence of plastic particles in waterbirds faeces collected in Spanish lakes
Researchers analyzed feces from three waterbird species (coot, mallard, shelduck) at five inland wetlands in Spain, finding plastic debris in 44–60% of individuals, suggesting that freshwater waterfowl ingest plastic at frequencies comparable to marine seabirds, likely from agricultural plastic debris surrounding the lakes.
Foraging strategy influences the quantity of ingested micro- and nanoplastics in shorebirds
Researchers found that surface-feeding shorebirds in Tasmania ingested 32 times more micro- and nanoplastics than deeper-foraging species, indicating that foraging strategy rather than local sediment contamination levels determines plastic exposure in coastal birds.
Shorebirds ingest plastics too: what we know, what we do not know, and what we should do next
This review synthesized existing knowledge on plastic ingestion by shorebirds, finding that despite high potential exposure through foraging in contaminated habitats, research on shorebird plastic ingestion remains limited and requires more systematic investigation.
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.
Micro-and macro-plastics in marine species from Nordic waters
This study surveyed micro- and macro-plastic contamination in marine species collected from Nordic waters, finding plastic in fish, crustaceans, and seabirds from multiple locations. The results document the geographic extent of microplastic ingestion across commercially and ecologically important Nordic marine species.
Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics in Invertebrate and Fish Species and Sediment Samples along the German Wadden Sea Coastline
Researchers collected 1,585 invertebrates, 310 fish, and 12 sediment cores from 10 sites along the German Wadden Sea coast to assess microplastic contamination using Nile red fluorescence microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Microplastics were found in all species and sites, with contamination rates of 79-94% across species and sediment concentrations up to 8,128 particles/kg, identifying Mytilus edulis and Platichthys flesus as the most suitable monitoring species.
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.
Plastics and other anthropogenic debris in freshwater birds from Canada.
This study quantified plastic debris ingestion in 17 freshwater and one marine bird species across Canada, finding that over 11% of individuals had ingested anthropogenic debris. The results show that plastic pollution in freshwater environments affects birds at rates comparable to marine species, highlighting the need to extend plastic pollution monitoring beyond the ocean.
Microplastics in special protected areas for migratory birds in the Bay of Biscay
Beaches within bird protection areas in the Bay of Biscay contained 145-382 microplastic particles per kg of dry sand, relatively high for European beaches, with open coastline beaches showing higher densities than sheltered estuarine ones, and bird droppings from shags and gulls confirming fiber ingestion.
Plastic 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.
The challenges of opportunistic sampling when comparing prevalence of plastics in diving seabirds: A multi-species example from Norway
Researchers analyzed the frequency of plastic ingestion in five pursuit-diving seabird species collected opportunistically, finding variability across species and discussing the methodological challenges of comparing prevalence data from opportunistically sampled wildlife. The study highlighted the importance of standardized sampling protocols for meaningful comparison of plastic ingestion rates across species.