Interspecific variability in plastic ingested by Procellariiformes off the Uruguayan coast

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Plastic pollution is a pervasive threat to marine ecosystems.
• Seabirds are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion due to their foraging habits.
• Understanding species-specific plastic ingestion is crucial for conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interspecific variability in plastic ingestion among albatrosses and petrels.
• To identify the types, sizes, and colors of plastics most commonly ingested.
• To explore the factors influencing plastic ingestion patterns in these seabird populations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of stomach contents from 107 bycaught albatrosses and petrels from the Southwest Atlantic.
• Quantification of plastic occurrence, size, type, and color.
• Correlation of ingestion data with species characteristics and foraging ecology.

Main Results:

• 62.86% of petrels and 4.17% of albatrosses contained plastics.
• Macronectes halli and Ardenna gravis showed 100% plastic occurrence.
• Mesoplastics (5-20 mm), user plastics, and white-clear items were most common; larger species ingested larger plastic items.

Conclusions:

• Significant interspecific differences exist in plastic ingestion among albatrosses and petrels.
• Digestive tract morphology, foraging techniques, body size, and interaction with fisheries influence plastic ingestion.
• The availability of plastics at the sea surface is a key factor in seabird plastic exposure.