Monitoring the occurrence of microplastic ingestion in otariids along the peruvian and chilean coasts
2020
Pérez Venegas, Diego J. | Toro Valdivieso, Constanza | Ayala, Félix | Brito, Beatriz | Iturra, Lunna | Arriagada, Maite | Seguel, Mauricio | Barrios, Carmen | Sepúlveda, Maritza | Oliva, Doris | Cárdenas Alayza, Susana | Urbina, Mauricio A. | Jorquera, Alberto | Castro Nallar, Eduardo | Galbán Malagón, Cristóbal
Repeated reports of microplastic pollution in the marine pinniped diet have emerged in the last years. However, only few studies address the drivers of microplastics presence and the potential implications for monitoring microplastic pollution in the ocean. This study monitored their in the scats (N = 205) of four pinniped species/subspecies at five different locations in the southern Pacific Ocean (Peru and Chile). Samples from all rookeries contained microplastics, and overall, 68% of the examined scats contained fragments/fibers, mostly blue colored. We confirmed that 81.5% of the fragments/fibers were anthropogenic in origin , but only 30% were polymers. Scats from Juan Fernandez Archipelago presented higher microplastic concentrations than continental rookeries. Also, the common diet in each location may influence the levels found in the samples. This study presents a useful non-invasive technique to track plastic pollution in top predator diets as bioindicators for future surveillance/management plans applied to different location.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]Rufford Foundation: N 18815-1. Dirección de Investigación y Doctorados, Universidad Andres Bello. Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), CONICYT FONDECYT: 11150548, 116504, 111609059. Instituto Antártico Chileno Grant: INACh RT_12_17. Conicyt PCI: REDI 170292, REDI 170403. Ministerio de Economia, Fomento y Turismo through Iniciativa Científica Milenio (Núcleo Milenio INVASAL). Direccion de Investigación Universidad de Variarais: DIUV 38/2013. Morris Animal Foundation fellowship: N D16ZO-413. Saint Louis Zoo. Chicago Zoological Society. Kansas City Zoo. Woodland Park Zoo.
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