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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Synthetic debris ingestion by carnivorous mammals in aquatic ecosystems: insights from the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Europe
ClearInvestigating the Presence and Trophic Transfer of Microplastics in Ex- and In-Situ North American Otters Through Scat and Diet Analysis
Researchers analyzed scat from wild and captive sea otters and river otters in the North Pacific to detect microplastic ingestion and investigate trophic transfer through their prey. The study found evidence of microplastics in otter feces, confirming that these top predators are exposed to microplastics through their diet of fish and invertebrates.
Microplastics, Alien Species and Amphibian Male-specific Predation in River Otter Diet (lutra Lutra). a Study of Two Populations in the Ticino Valley (north Italy) and Sila Massif (south Italy).
Researchers studied otter diet and distribution in two Italian rivers and found evidence that otters are consuming prey contaminated with microplastics and invasive species. The study highlights how predators at the top of freshwater food chains can accumulate plastic pollution through their diet.
Microplastic loads in Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) feces—targeting a standardized protocol and first results from an alpine stream, the River Inn
Researchers developed a standardized method for extracting and analyzing microplastics from Eurasian otter feces to use these apex predators as indicators of aquatic pollution. Testing the method on 50 samples from Austria's River Inn, they found microplastics of various sizes and types, including fibers and tire wear particles, in every sample. The study suggests that otters can serve as effective bioindicators for tracking microplastic contamination in river ecosystems.
Microplastics in Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraints and their potential as a biomonitoring tool in freshwater systems
Researchers analyzed microplastics in Eurasian otter spraints from Irish freshwater systems, finding diverse polymer types and suggesting otter scat could serve as an effective biomonitoring tool for tracking microplastic contamination in rivers.
Investigations into the Roles of Organisms on Environmental Plastic Pollution
This thesis investigated the roles of organisms in environmental plastic pollution, examining how marine and freshwater animals ingest microplastics and how they may transfer them through food webs. The work contributes to understanding the ecological consequences of plastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems.
What goes in, must come out: Combining scat‐based molecular diet analysis and quantification of ingested microplastics in a marine top predator
By combining molecular diet analysis from seal scat with quantification of ingested microplastics, researchers found that a marine top predator was regularly ingesting plastic particles, with exposure likely mediated through prey species that had themselves ingested plastics. The study demonstrates trophic transfer of microplastics through a food chain to a marine mammal predator.
Modelling the transfer and accumulation of microplastics in a riverine freshwater food web
Researchers built a computer model of a river food web in Ireland to track how microplastics move from invertebrates through fish to otters, finding that microplastics do not appear to magnify in concentration as they travel up the food chain, though more data on how long organisms retain plastics is still needed.
Investigating microplastic trophic transfer in marine top predators
Researchers investigated trophic transfer of microplastics in grey seals by analyzing digestive tracts of wild-caught Atlantic mackerel (fed to captive seals) alongside seal scat. Microplastics were detected in both prey fish and seal scat, providing empirical in natura evidence for trophic transfer in a marine top predator.
Microplastics and the Impact of Plastic on Wildlife: A Literature Review
This review synthesizes evidence on microplastic ingestion and accumulation in seabirds and wildlife, examining the pathways by which microplastics move through marine food webs and the potential physiological harm to upper-trophic predators.
The adverse health effects of increasing microplastic pollution on aquatic mammals
Researchers reviewed the current evidence on microplastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems and its adverse health effects on aquatic mammals, which are particularly vulnerable as top predators. The study highlights that microplastics accumulate through the food chain and may cause physical harm, chemical toxicity, and serve as carriers for other pollutants, posing serious concerns for marine mammal populations.
How plastic debris and associated chemicals impact the marine food web: A review.
This review examined how plastic debris and associated chemicals disrupt marine food webs at all trophic levels, from physical entanglement and false satiation in megafauna to microplastic ingestion and chemical transfer through trophic magnification, concluding that plastic contamination poses systemic threats to marine ecosystem function.
Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
This study found microplastics in barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets collected at two sites in Portugal with different levels of human activity. As apex predators in terrestrial food chains, barn owls accumulate microplastics from the small mammals they eat, demonstrating that microplastic contamination extends through land-based food webs.
Microplastics in patagonian marine mammals: where do they come from and what is their fate once ingested?
Researchers investigated the sources and fate of microplastics ingested by Patagonian marine mammals, examining tissue distribution and accumulation pathways to understand how these particles move through the bodies of apex predators in southern ocean ecosystems.
Addressing the current fettle of bioaccumulation of microplastics on the subsequent perspective of the aquatic ecosystem and health implications of commercial species: a review
This review examined the global evidence for microplastic bioaccumulation in aquatic animals and the downstream risks to ecosystem health and food security. The authors highlight how ingestion of plastic-contaminated prey transfers microplastics up the food chain.
Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization
Researchers found evidence of microplastic contamination in barn owl pellets collected from two sites with different levels of human activity, marking the first such study of its kind. Several polymer types were identified in the pellets, indicating that microplastics are moving through terrestrial food chains to reach apex predators. The findings suggest that even wildlife in relatively natural landscapes is exposed to microplastic pollution through their prey.
Otters as bioindicators of estuarine health: Scientific gaps, field-based insights, and a framework for future research
This review evaluates otters as bioindicators of estuarine health, examining their potential to signal ecosystem degradation from pollution including microplastics. Researchers identified scientific gaps in current monitoring approaches and proposed a framework for using semi-aquatic mammals as sentinel species for tracking environmental contamination in estuary ecosystems.
Microplastics in the Amur tiger's habitat: Occurrence, characteristics, and risk assessment
Researchers characterized microplastics in the habitat of the Amur tiger in Russia's Far East, finding MPs in soil, water, and prey organisms, and assessing the potential risk this contamination poses to one of the world's most endangered large predators.
Investigating microplastic trophic transfer in marine top predators
Researchers investigated whether microplastics can transfer through the food chain by analyzing the scat of captive grey seals and the wild mackerel they were fed. They found microplastics in about half of the seal scat samples and a third of the fish, with similar particle types in both. The study suggests that trophic transfer is a plausible route for microplastics to move up marine food chains to top predators.
Plastic in the pack: assessing microplastic risk to urban coyotes (Canis latrans) in the San Francisco Bay Area
Researchers found microplastics in scat samples from urban coyotes in North American cities, with a majority of sampled animals testing positive, suggesting that terrestrial carnivores living in human-modified landscapes routinely encounter and ingest plastic particles through contaminated prey and scavenging.
Marine litter: trends and impacts in marine fauna
This review synthesizes evidence on marine litter sources, distribution, and ecological impacts, with particular focus on microplastics as a pervasive contaminant across all marine habitats. It finds that microplastics threaten marine life through ingestion, entanglement, and chemical transport, with impacts spanning trophic levels from plankton to large marine mammals.
Plastic ingestion and trophic transfer in an endangered top predator, the longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus), from the tropical western Pacific Ocean
This study documented plastic ingestion and trophic transfer in longfin mako sharks from the tropical western Pacific, finding plastics in both the stomach contents and prey items of this endangered species, demonstrating that microplastic contamination reaches apex marine predators through trophic pathways.
Ecological impact of microplastic pollution on marine food webs
This review examines how microplastic pollution disrupts marine food webs, tracing the transfer of plastic particles and associated chemicals from plankton through fish to top predators and analyzing the ecological consequences for marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Uptake and Transfer of Polyamide Microplastics in a Freshwater Mesocosm Study
A freshwater mesocosm study tracked the trophic and ontogenetic transfer of polyamide microplastics through an aquatic food web under near-natural conditions, confirming that particles were transferred between prey and predators at multiple levels. The results demonstrate that microplastic transfer through food webs occurs in realistic community settings, not just isolated laboratory tests.
Assessing microplastic pollution in marine mammals: evidence from three cetacean species in the southeastern Black Sea
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the digestive tracts of three cetacean species from the southeastern Black Sea, finding particles in all seven individuals studied. Fiber-shaped microplastics were the most common type, and polymer analysis identified polyester and polyamide as the dominant materials. The study adds to growing evidence that marine mammals accumulate microplastics through the food chain, raising concerns about the health of top ocean predators.