What's on the menu? Megaplastics in a stranded Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823 on Rhodes Island, Greece

Global plastic pollution defines the Plasticene Era, disrupting trophic interactions across ecosystems. Despite progress since the 1990s, much about beaked whale biology and conservation status remains unknown, particularly their vulnerability to plastic pollution. The stranding of a female Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) on Rhodes Island, Greece, in April 2022 provided a rare chance to assess this threat. Examination revealed 6.73 kg of plastic debris in the stomach, covering 17.44 m², mostly polyethylene sheets, including three intact plastic bags. The largest item measured ~2000 cm², potentially mistaken for cephalopods. Spectroscopic analysis showed black residues resembling oil/tar on multiple items. Black and transparent plastics were dominant (~33 % each), followed by grey (24 %) and blue (10 %). Microplastics were not evaluated in this study, and tissue analysis showed no significant abnormalities. Cephalopod beaks of similar size to the plastics were also present. The findings indicate that plastic ingestion caused severe malnutrition, potentially contributing to the whale's death.