Marine debris such as plastic fragments and fishing gears are accumulating in the ocean at alarming rates. This study assesses the incidence of debris in the gastrointestinal tracts of seabirds feeding at different depths and found stranded along the Brazilian coast in the period 2010–2013. More than half (55%) of the species analysed, corresponding to 16% of the total number of individuals, presented plastic particles in their gastrointestinal tracts. The incidence of debris was higher in birds feeding predominantly at intermediate (3–6 m) and deep (20–100 m) waters than those feeding at surface (< 2 m). These results suggest that studying the presence of debris in organisms mainly feeding at the ocean surface provides a limited view about the risks that this form of pollution has on marine life and highlight the ubiquitous and three-dimensional distribution of plastic in the oceans.
Tavares D.C., Moura J.F., Merico A. and Siciliano S. (2017) Incidence of marine debris in seabirds feeding at different water depths. Marine Pollution Bulletin 119(2): 68-73. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.012
@article{Tavares2017,
Title = {Incidence of marine debris in seabirds feeding at different water depths},
Author = {Tavares, D.C. and Moura, J.F. and Merico, Agostino and Siciliano, S.},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},
Year = {2017},
Pages = {68-73},
Volume = {119},
Doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.012},
Abstract = {Marine debris such as plastic fragments and fishing gears are accumulating in the ocean at alarming rates. This study assesses the incidence of debris in the gastrointestinal tracts of seabirds feeding at different depths and found stranded along the Brazilian coast in the period 2010–2013. More than half (55%) of the species analysed, corresponding to 16% of the total number of individuals, presented plastic particles in their gastrointestinal tracts. The incidence of debris was higher in birds feeding predominantly at intermediate (3–6 m) and deep (20–100 m) waters than those feeding at surface (< 2 m). These results suggest that studying the presence of debris in organisms mainly feeding at the ocean surface provides a limited view about the risks that this form of pollution has on marine life and highlight the ubiquitous and three-dimensional distribution of plastic in the oceans.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Tavares, D.C.
AU - Moura, J.F.
AU - Merico, Agostino
AU - Siciliano, S.
TI - Incidence of marine debris in seabirds feeding at different water depths
T2 - Marine Pollution Bulletin
PY - 2017
SP - 68-73
VL - 119
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.012
AB - Marine debris such as plastic fragments and fishing gears are accumulating in the ocean at alarming rates. This study assesses the incidence of debris in the gastrointestinal tracts of seabirds feeding at different depths and found stranded along the Brazilian coast in the period 2010–2013. More than half (55%) of the species analysed, corresponding to 16% of the total number of individuals, presented plastic particles in their gastrointestinal tracts. The incidence of debris was higher in birds feeding predominantly at intermediate (3–6 m) and deep (20–100 m) waters than those feeding at surface (< 2 m). These results suggest that studying the presence of debris in organisms mainly feeding at the ocean surface provides a limited view about the risks that this form of pollution has on marine life and highlight the ubiquitous and three-dimensional distribution of plastic in the oceans.
ER -
