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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Foraging strategy influences the quantity of ingested micro- and nanoplastics in shorebirds
ClearVarying 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.
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.
Microplastic burden in marine benthic invertebrates depends on species traits and feeding ecology within biogeographical provinces
Researchers analyzed microplastic levels in the bodies of marine bottom-dwelling invertebrates across different ocean regions and found that the amount of microplastic ingested depended more on the animals' feeding strategies and body traits than on local pollution levels alone. Filter-feeding and deposit-feeding species accumulated the most particles. The study suggests that simply measuring environmental microplastic concentrations may not accurately predict how much wildlife in an area is actually ingesting.
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.
Feeding type affects microplastic ingestion in a coastal invertebrate community
Researchers exposed a coastal Baltic Sea invertebrate community — including mussels, crustaceans, and deposit feeders — to microplastic beads at three concentrations and found that feeding mode strongly determined ingestion rates, with filter-feeding bivalves accumulating significantly more particles than deposit feeders or free-swimming crustaceans.
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.
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.
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.
Is the feeding type related with the content of microplastics in intertidal fish gut?
Researchers compared microplastic ingestion across intertidal fish with different feeding strategies and found that feeding type influenced the amount of plastic found in stomachs. The study suggests that filter feeders and detritivores may ingest more microplastics than active predators, linking ecological role to plastic exposure risk.
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.
Tracing microplastics in environmental sources and migratory shorebirds along the Central Asian Flyway
Researchers tracked microplastic contamination along migratory bird routes in central Asia, testing mudflats, mangroves, and the birds themselves. They found microplastics in both the environment and the digestive tracts of shorebirds, showing that these pollutants are moving through coastal food webs and may be carried across continents by migrating birds.
Do different habits affect microplastics contents in organisms? A trait-based analysis on salt marsh species
Scientists measured microplastic occurrence in six benthic invertebrate species from salt marshes in northern Italy and the Netherlands, finding that species feeding habits, body size, and habitat use were better predictors of microplastic contamination than sampling location alone.
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.
Seabird plastic ingestion differs among collection methods: Examples from the short-tailed shearwater.
This study compared plastic loads in short-tailed shearwaters collected as fishing bycatch versus naturally dead beached birds, finding that naturally dead birds carried significantly more plastic debris. The results suggest that studies relying only on beached carcasses overestimate typical plastic ingestion rates in seabird populations.
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.
Ecological interactions influencing microplastic loading in small terrestrial birds
Researchers examined how ecological interactions among soil organisms influence microplastic loading in small terrestrial bird nests, finding that foraging behavior and habitat use create pathways for plastic accumulation in nest materials.
Study of feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination in selected creek fishes of northeastern Arabian Sea: A multi-species approach
Researchers studied the feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination of selected fish species, finding that feeding habits directly influence the quantity and type of microplastics ingested. The results demonstrate that trophic position and prey preferences are key predictors of microplastic exposure in wild fish.
Evaluation of microplastics in marine selective and non-selective suspension-feeding benthic invertebrates
This global meta-analysis of 144 studies found that non-selective suspension-feeding marine invertebrates contain significantly more microplastics than selective feeders, both per individual and per gram of tissue. Polyethylene, PET, and polypropylene were the dominant polymers across 131 species, with feeding strategy emerging as a key factor determining microplastic contamination levels in seafood organisms.
Comparison of the Uptake of Tire Particles via Suspension and Surface Deposit Feeding in the Estuarine Amphipod Corophium volutator
Researchers exposed the estuarine amphipod Corophium volutator to environmentally relevant concentrations of tire particles and measured ingestion through two feeding modes: suspension and surface deposit feeding. Both feeding modes resulted in tire particle uptake, with deposit feeding leading to higher ingestion, suggesting benthic invertebrates are vulnerable to tire-derived microplastic pollution.
Comparison of theUptake of Tire Particles via Suspensionand Surface Deposit Feeding in the Estuarine Amphipod Corophiumvolutator
Researchers compared tire particle uptake by the estuarine amphipod Corophium volutator through suspension feeding versus surface deposit feeding pathways, finding that exposure route significantly affects ingestion rates, with implications for understanding how aquatic invertebrates accumulate tire-derived microplastic pollution.
The Behavior of Planktonic Copepods Minimizes the Entry of Microplastics in Marine Food Webs
Researchers found that planktonic copepods across all major feeding behaviors ingested microplastics at rates up to ten times lower than similar-sized microalgae, suggesting that copepod feeding strategies naturally limit the entry of microplastics into marine food webs.
Assessing the bioaccumulation of microplastics in commercially important fish species
Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species from coastal and offshore waters, finding significant differences between species based on feeding strategies and habitat depth. Filter feeders and omnivorous species accumulated more microplastics than others, reflecting diet-based differences across trophic levels. The study raises concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through widely consumed seafood products.
Habitual feeding patterns impact polystyrene microplastic abundance and potential toxicity in edible benthic mollusks
This study examined how different feeding strategies in edible mollusks affect how many microplastics they accumulate and how toxic the effects are. Researchers found that deposit-feeding snails and filter-feeding clams accumulated microplastics differently, with distinct impacts on digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity markers. The findings suggest that a shellfish species' feeding behavior directly influences the microplastic contamination risk for both the animal and human consumers.
Microplastics in invertebrates on soft shores in Hong Kong: Influence of habitat, taxa and feeding mode
Researchers surveyed microplastic occurrence in 38 invertebrate species across 18 mudflats and sandy beaches in Hong Kong, finding that feeding mode and habitat type were stronger predictors of microplastic ingestion than taxonomic group, with suspension feeders in mudflat environments showing the highest contamination. The study provides a broad baseline for microplastic uptake across coastal invertebrate communities.