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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Seabird plastic ingestion differs among collection methods: Examples from the short-tailed shearwater.
ClearThe 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Alterations in characteristics of plastic ingestion and decreasing body condition in beachcast fledgling short-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris) at Phillip Island, Australia.
Analysis of beachcast short-tailed shearwater fledglings showed high rates of plastic ingestion (87–95% of birds in 2021–2022) alongside declining body condition, suggesting plastic pollution is affecting seabird health at Phillip Island, Victoria. Changes in plastic ingestion characteristics over time were also documented.
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.
Recommended 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.
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.
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.
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.
Overview of plastic ingestion in seabirds: a call for harmonized methods
This review examined over 2,500 publications on plastic ingestion in seabirds to map methodological approaches for sampling, detection, and analysis of macro- and microplastics across species. The authors identified major gaps including over-reliance on visual classification, limited use of chemical identification techniques, and inconsistent protocols, issuing a call for harmonized standardized methods to enable meaningful cross-study comparisons.
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.
Interspecific variability in plastic ingested by Procellariiformes off the Uruguayan coast.
This study assessed plastic ingestion in albatrosses and petrels caught as fishing bycatch in the Southwest Atlantic, finding significant species differences — with petrels ingesting plastic far more frequently than albatrosses. Larger species tended to ingest larger plastic items, and findings indicate these seabirds encounter persistent plastic pollution throughout the southern oceans.
Sublethal consequences of plastic exposure in seabirds
Researchers studied the sublethal effects of macroplastic and microplastic ingestion in flesh-footed shearwaters (seabirds) and found evidence of reduced body condition, altered blood chemistry, and elevated chemical tissue concentrations. The findings suggest that plastic ingestion causes measurable harm to seabirds even below lethal doses, with implications for population health in plastic-polluted marine environments.
Marine debris ingestion by adults and fledglings of Swinhoe's storm petrels in the Republic of Korea
Researchers analyzed stomach contents of stranded Swinhoe's storm petrel carcasses from a Korean breeding colony and found that both adults and fledglings ingested predominantly microplastics, with juveniles consuming more plastic by weight than adults and the two age groups ingesting different particle shapes, suggesting separate foraging behaviors.
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.