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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Overview of plastic ingestion in seabirds: a call for harmonized methods
ClearRecommended best practices for plastic and litter ingestion studies in marine birds: Collection, processing, and reporting
This paper proposed standardized best practices for sampling, processing, and reporting plastic ingestion in marine birds, aiming to improve consistency across studies and enable meaningful large-scale comparisons.
Marine birds and plastic debris in Canada: a national synthesis and a way forward
This national synthesis reviews available data on marine plastic ingestion by seabirds in Canada, finding that systematic monitoring began only in the mid-2000s and that significant data gaps remain regarding ingestion prevalence, intensity, and health effects across most Canadian marine regions. Researchers propose a coordinated national monitoring framework using standardized protocols aligned with international programs.
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.
Overview of global status of plastic presence in marine vertebrates
A review of 112 studies on plastic ingestion by marine vertebrates (sea turtles, cetaceans, fish) found widespread occurrence across species and ocean regions, with methodological inconsistencies preventing reliable global comparisons and underscoring the need for standardized protocols.
Towards the suitable monitoring of ingestion of microplastics by marine biota: A review
This review assessed various monitoring methods for detecting microplastic ingestion by marine biota, comparing laboratory and field-based approaches. The authors recommend method selection based on organism type and research question and call for more consistent reporting standards to enable cross-study comparison.
Métodos para avaliação da exposição a poluentes plásticos em procellariiformes
This paper reviews methods for assessing plastic exposure in Procellariiformes seabirds — including albatrosses and petrels — focusing on how to measure plastic ingestion in both live and beached birds. Standardized methods are needed to monitor how plastic pollution affects these ocean-going birds over time.
Marine mammals and microplastics: A systematic review and call for standardisation
Microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of marine mammals in all but one of 30 studies reviewed, with 0-88 particles per animal, and were detected in pinniped scat in 8 of 10 studies, though considerable methodological inconsistencies make cross-study comparisons difficult.
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.
Methods for sampling, processing, identification,and quantification of microplastics in the marine environment
This paper reviews and compares the various methods used to collect, process, identify, and quantify microplastics across different environmental samples. It highlights the lack of standardized protocols as a major obstacle to comparing results across studies and calls for methodological harmonization.
Microplastic Extraction from Marine Vertebrate Digestive Tracts, Regurgitates and Scats: A Protocol for Researchers from All Experience Levels
This paper presents a standardized protocol for extracting and identifying microplastics from the digestive systems of marine vertebrates (mammals, birds, turtles, and fish). Having consistent, accessible methods is essential for generating comparable data on how much plastic wildlife across different species and regions are ingesting.
Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods of Microplastics in Marine Organisms
This review synthesizes global data on microplastic occurrence and distribution across marine organisms, comparing the advantages and limitations of different extraction and identification methods used in the field.
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.
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.
Plastic ingestion by seabirds in New Caledonia, South Pacific
Researchers examined stomach contents of 90 seabirds from 12 species in New Caledonia and found plastic debris in 14.4% of individuals, with the highest rates in procellariids (petrels and shearwaters), providing the first plastic ingestion baseline for this Pacific island region.
Quality Criteria for the Analysis of Microplastic in Biota Samples: A Critical Review
Ten quality criteria were applied to review recent microplastic ingestion studies in aquatic biota, finding wide variation in methodological rigor including inadequate sample sizes, poor contamination controls, and inconsistent polymer identification methods. The authors propose a standardized quality assessment framework to improve comparability of microplastic ingestion data across studies.
Birds as bioindicators of plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments: A 30-year review
This 30-year review of 106 studies examines how birds in freshwater and land environments are affected by plastic pollution. Most research has focused on larger plastic pieces, while microplastic exposure in these bird species is understudied and nanoplastic exposure has not been investigated at all. The authors urge researchers to develop standardized methods for measuring small plastic particles in birds, which could serve as valuable warning signs of plastic pollution across ecosystems.
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.
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.
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.
Plastic ingestion in seabirds of the western Indian Ocean
Researchers examined stomach contents of 222 seabirds from nine species in the western Indian Ocean and found plastic in all species, with tropical shearwaters (79%) and Barau's petrels (59%) most affected, and juvenile birds carrying significantly greater plastic mass than adults, indicating regional ocean plastic pollution and age-dependent exposure risks.
Characterization of Plastics Ingested by the Bioindicator Cory’s Shearwater from Tenerife Island (Canary Islands): Implications for Marine Environmental Monitoring
Researchers characterised 674 plastic items found in the stomachs of Cory's shearwater fledglings from the Canary Islands, finding that ingested plastics were predominantly large microplastics (1-5 mm, 82%) with threadlike morphology, and that the birds serve as effective bioindicators of marine plastic pollution in the eastern Atlantic.
Recovering microplastics from marine samples: A review of current practices
This review compared the published methods for separating and identifying microplastics from seawater, sediment, and marine organisms, assessing their efficiency, processing time, and potential to damage particles. It highlights the lack of standardized protocols as a major barrier to comparing results across studies.
New Methods for the Quantification of Ingested Nano- and Ultrafine Plastics in Seabirds.
This study developed flow cytometry as a method to detect and quantify very small plastic particles (under 70 micrometers) in the feces of seabirds, addressing a major gap in detecting nano- and ultrafine plastics that standard techniques miss. Testing on two Australian shearwater species showed the method could detect particles far smaller than previously measurable, suggesting that seabirds ingest far more plastic by particle count than previously recognized.
Toward harmonised monitoring of plastic pollution: description of a systematic review to evaluate and apply reproducible methods
Scientists reviewed 60 years of research and found that studies measuring plastic pollution in our environment use wildly different methods, making it impossible to compare results or understand the true scope of the problem. This lack of consistency means we can't properly track whether plastic pollution (including tiny particles that can enter our food and water) is getting better or worse over time. The researchers are calling for standardized methods so we can better monitor plastic pollution and protect human health.