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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Differences in microplastics in passerine feces across species, diet, and foraging location
ClearMicroscopic anthropogenic waste ingestion by small terrestrial European passerines: evidence from finch and tit families
Researchers examined the stomachs and intestines of nine common European songbird species — finches and tits — to see how much microscopic waste they were ingesting. Of 149 birds tested, 31 contained particles including 7 confirmed microplastics (polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene), along with cellulosic fibers like cotton and rayon. Finches ingested more than tits, and ingestion rates were higher outside the breeding season. Because these small birds are prey for larger animals, they may be passing microplastics up the food chain.
How do life history and behaviour influence plastic ingestion risk in Canadian freshwater and terrestrial birds?
Researchers examined 457 wild birds in Canada and found that about 5% had visible plastic debris in their digestive tracts, with non-raptor species being nine times more likely to ingest plastic than raptors. When they looked more closely at raptor intestines, they found microplastic particles in all 54 birds tested, even though few had larger plastic pieces. The study identifies certain bird species as potential sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater and land environments.
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.
Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of nestling and adult migratory birds
Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts of both nestling and adult migratory birds across six species, finding widespread plastic ingestion with fibers predominating, suggesting that microplastic exposure begins early in avian life stages.
Microplastic Pollution in Urban Birds: A Comparative Study of Rock, Columba livia, and Corvus splendens
Researchers compared microplastic contamination, health markers, and foraging behaviour in Rock Pigeons and House Crows from urban environments in a study of terrestrial avian MP exposure. Both species contained MPs in their gastrointestinal tracts, with differences in contamination level and polymer type reflecting species-specific foraging ecology.
Microplastic accumulation in various bird species in Turkey
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 12 bird species in Turkey, providing the first data of its kind for the country. They found microplastics in all species examined, with variations in particle types and concentrations across different birds. The study contributes to the growing evidence that microplastic pollution affects wildlife across diverse habitats and feeding strategies.
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.
Microplastics presence in wild bird species through an environmental forensic lens
This study examined microplastic presence in wild bird species using an environmental forensics approach, finding plastic particles across multiple bird taxa in ecosystems ranging from urban to remote. The results highlight wild birds as both sentinels of and victims of plastic pollution.
Microplastic Abundance, Shape, and Color in Passerines Captured at Rushton Woods Preserve Bird Banding Station in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA, April-September 2024
Researchers collected fecal samples from five passerine bird species at a Pennsylvania bird banding station between April and September 2024, chemically digesting and filtering samples to quantify and characterize microplastics by abundance, shape, and color in woodland songbirds.
Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China
Researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics in the intestines of 49 bird species in Chengdu, China, with PVC and chlorinated polyethylene being the most common types. Nanoplastics, which are harder to detect and potentially more harmful, were confirmed in five species using advanced analytical methods. The widespread contamination across many bird species suggests that microplastic pollution has thoroughly penetrated terrestrial food webs, not just marine environments.
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.
Thrushes (Aves: Passeriformes) as indicators of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environments
Researchers examined thrushes (songbirds) as sentinel species for terrestrial microplastic pollution, finding MPs in digestive tracts of birds sampled from multiple habitats. The study supports using thrushes as bioindicators of land-based plastic contamination, given their broad distribution and feeding behaviors that bring them into contact with soil and invertebrates.
High microplastic pollution in birds of urban waterbodies revealed by non-invasively collected faecal samples
Researchers analyzed bird droppings from urban freshwater habitats in Germany and found microplastic particles, mainly fibers, in 98% of samples across all species studied. The pollution levels were substantially higher than those reported in other freshwater bird studies, likely reflecting the heavy contamination of urban waterways. Since all the investigated species are at least partially migratory, the findings suggest birds may transport microplastics over long distances.
Assessing microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in bird lungs: evidence of ecological risks and bioindicator potential
Researchers examined the lungs of 51 bird species and found microplastics in all of them, averaging over 400 particles per gram of lung tissue, with nanoplastics also detected in five species tested. Birds may serve as early warning indicators of airborne plastic pollution, and the widespread contamination of their lungs suggests that humans breathing the same air face similar exposure risks.
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.
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.
Microplastics in Urban Bird Feces: A Methodological Approach and Case Study in Mexico City
Researchers analyzed pigeon droppings from three sites in Mexico City and found 16 to 28 microplastic particles per gram, mostly fragments of polystyrene and polyethylene smaller than 1 millimeter. The study developed a reliable method for extracting microplastics from organic material with a 93% recovery rate. Urban birds like pigeons can serve as indicators of microplastic pollution levels in cities, reflecting the contamination that humans in those same areas are also exposed to.
Gastric lavage may not be representative of total microplastic ingestion for a wild passerine bird
Researchers tested non-lethal gastric lavage in 105 Brown-headed Cowbirds and found it recovered only an average of 50.4% of total ingested microplastics — with wide individual variability (0–100%) — concluding the technique provides unreliable estimates of total microplastic body burden.
Documentation of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of terrestrial raptors in central California, USA
Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of all 16 terrestrial raptors (hawks and owls) examined on California's central coast, averaging over 12 particles per bird. The study is significant because it shows microplastic contamination has spread into land-based food chains, not just aquatic ones, raising questions about how plastic pollution affects predatory bird populations.
Organ-level translocation and tissue-specific accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in wild birds
Researchers quantified micro- and nanoplastic burdens across six tissues in ten wild bird species and found that smaller-bodied birds carried higher plastic loads. Nanoplastics showed greater ability to move into internal organs than larger microplastics, and plastic particles were detected in the brain, blood, lungs, and muscle tissue. The study suggests that blood plastic levels could serve as a proxy for internal organ contamination and positions wild birds as potential bioindicators for plastic pollution.
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.
The potential of aerial insectivores for monitoring microplastics in terrestrial environments
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in tree swallow chicks near a wastewater treatment plant and at a rural conservation area. They found anthropogenic microparticles, predominantly fibers, in nearly all chicks at both sites, suggesting that aerial insectivores could serve as useful biological monitors for tracking microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments.
Microplastic Ingestion Induces Size-Specific Effects in Japanese Quail
Researchers found that Japanese quail ingesting environmentally collected microplastics showed size-specific effects, with small particles under 125 micrometers causing different physiological responses than larger 3mm particles, demonstrating that particle size matters for avian microplastic toxicity.
Accumulation of microplastics in predatory birds near a densely populated urban area
Researchers found microplastics in every single digestive tract examined from four species of predatory birds near a major city, and 65% also had microplastics in their respiratory systems. On average, each bird contained about 8 microplastic particles, mostly fibers, likely ingested through contaminated prey. This is the first study to document microplastic contamination in the breathing organs of birds of prey, showing how plastic pollution moves up the food chain.