Tracking the exposure of a pelagic seabird to marine plastic pollution

We aimed to describe how debris originated from coastal cities and fisheries circulates and accumulates along the Argentine continental shelf and its potential interaction with southern giant petrels (SGP, Macronectes giganteus). We used tracking data of 31 SGPs (adults and juveniles) from Patagonian colonies. Lagrangian simulations of particles were released from coastal cities and fisheries. Oceanographic features together with plastic input generated a corridor of debris through the Argentine shelf with areas of high debris accumulation, exposing SGP to plastic consumption. During chick provisioning trips 93.9% of petrel's locations overlapped with areas of plastic accumulation. Although early developmental stages were more exposed to particles from cities, the exposure of petrels (all classes) to debris from fisheries was 10% higher than from cities. Measures to reduce debris from fisheries, would reduce plastic ingestion by giant petrels. Proper management of open sky dumpsters would reduce plastic consumption by chicks and juveniles.

Fil: Blanco, Gabriela Silvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina

Fil: Tonini, Mariano Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales; Argentina

Fil: Gallo, Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; Argentina. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentina

Fil: Dell'Omo, Giacomo. Ornis Italica; Italia

Fil: Quintana, Flavio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; Argentina