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Perold V, Connan M, Suaria G, Weideman EA, Dilley BJ, Ryan PG. Regurgitated skua pellets containing the remains of South Atlantic seabirds can be used as biomonitors of small buoyant plastics at sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116400. [PMID: 38692002 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Using seabirds as bioindicators of marine plastic pollution requires an understanding of how the plastic retained in each species compares with that found in their environment. We show that brown skua Catharacta antarctica regurgitated pellets can be used to characterise plastics in four seabird taxa breeding in the central South Atlantic, even though skua pellets might underrepresent the smallest plastic items in their prey. Fregetta storm petrels ingested more thread-like plastics and white-faced storm petrels Pelagodroma marina more industrial pellets than broad-billed prions Pachyptila vittata and great shearwaters Ardenna gravis. Ingested plastic composition (type, colour and polymer) was similar to floating plastics in the region sampled with a 200 μm net, but storm petrels were better indicators of the size of plastics than prions and shearwaters. Given this information, plastics in skua pellets containing the remains of seabirds can be used to track long-term changes in floating marine plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vonica Perold
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Maëlle Connan
- Department of Zoology, Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Giuseppe Suaria
- CNR-ISMAR (Institute of Marine Sciences - National Research Council), Lerici 19032, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Eleanor A Weideman
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Ben J Dilley
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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Bottari T, Houssa R, Brundo MV, Mghili B, Maaghloud H, Mancuso M. Plastic litter colonization in a brackish water environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169177. [PMID: 38072276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Transitional waters, including coastal ponds, represent unique environments. These distinct ecosystems are often among the most severely polluted systems due to intensive human activities. Our study marks the first evaluation of aquatic invertebrates associated with plastic litter in two brackish ponds. We collected 43 items of plastic litter (including bottles and disposable plastics) during the winter and spring of 2022. Most of plastic litter (76.8 %) was colonized by aquatic invertebrates. A total of 495 individuals were observed on the plastic litter, with the number of individuals ranging from 1 to 54 (average = 13.4). The most abundant taxa were from the families Gammaridae, Serpulidae, and Sphaeromatidae. Invertebrates colonized both the external and internal surfaces of the plastic bottles. Plastic bottles trapped 25 % of the total biota. The internal entrapped taxa were mainly represented by gammarids, molluscs egg mass, and sphaeromatids. Open bottles could potentially serve as temporary or permanent traps for invertebrates colonizing their internal surfaces. We argue that the dispersal of species driven by plastics is possible but limited, just as water exchanges with the seas are limited. These brackish lakes could be transit areas, but more importantly, they could be hotspots for plastic litter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Bottari
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM) - CNR, Messina, Italy.
| | - Rachida Houssa
- Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Maria Violetta Brundo
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Hind Maaghloud
- Department of Biology, Health Environment laboratory, Hassan II University, Faculty of Science - AInchock, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Monique Mancuso
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM) - CNR, Messina, Italy
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Gallitelli L, Cesarini G, Sodo A, Cera A, Scalici M. Life on bottles: Colonisation of macroplastics by freshwater biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162349. [PMID: 36813195 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While rivers are known to be the main vectors of plastics to the sea, it seems surprising that studies on interactions (e.g. colonisation/entrapment and drift) between macroplastics and biota continue to remain largely neglected, notwithstanding they represent unexpected threats to freshwater biota and riverine habitats. To fill these gaps, here we focused on the colonisation of plastic bottles by freshwater biota. To do so, we collected 100 plastic bottles from the River Tiber in summer 2021. Overall, 95 bottles were colonised externally and 23 internally. Specifically, biota mainly occurred within and outside the bottles rather than plastic pieces and organic debris. Moreover, while bottles were externally covered mainly by vegetal organisms (i.e. macrophytes), they internally entrapped more animal organisms (i.e. invertebrates). The taxa most occurring within and outside the bottles belonged to pool and low water quality-associated taxa (e.g. Lemna sp., Gastropoda, and Diptera). In addition to biota and organic debris, plastic particles also occurred on bottles reporting the first observation of 'metaplastics' (i.e. plastics encrusted on bottles). Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between the colonising taxa abundance and the bottle degree degradation. In this regard, we discussed how bottle buoyancy may change due to the organic matter on the bottle, affecting bottle sinking and transport along rivers. Our findings might be crucial for understanding the underrepresented topic of riverine plastics and their colonisation by biota, given that these plastics may act as vectors and cause biogeographical, environmental, and conservation issues to freshwater habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - G Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - A Sodo
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - A Cera
- Institute of Freshwater Biology, Nagano University, 1088 Komaki, Ueda, Nagano 386-0031, Japan
| | - M Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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Weideman EA, Perold V, Donnarumma V, Suaria G, Ryan PG. Proximity to coast and major rivers influence the density of floating microplastics and other litter in east African coastal waters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114644. [PMID: 36764144 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Floating anthropogenic litter occurs in all ocean basins, yet little is known about their distribution and abundance in the coastal waters off east Africa. Neuston net and bulk water sampling shows that meso- and micro-litter (8567 ± 19,684 items∙km-2, 44 ± 195 g∙km-2) and microfibres (2.4 ± 2.6 fibres∙L-1) are pervasive pollutants off the coasts of Tanzania and northern Mozambique, with higher litter loads off Tanzania. Densities of meso- and micro-litter at the start of the rainy season were greater close to the coast and to major river mouths, suggesting that much litter likely originates on land. However, the mass of litter increased with distance from the six major coastal cities. By number, 95% of meso- and micro-litter was plastic, but only 6% of microfibres. Our results highlight the need to reduce plastic use and improve solid waste management in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor A Weideman
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Vonica Perold
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Vincenzo Donnarumma
- CNR-ISMAR (Institute of Marine Sciences - National Research Council), Lerici 19032, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Suaria
- CNR-ISMAR (Institute of Marine Sciences - National Research Council), Lerici 19032, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Peter G Ryan
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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Ledieu L, Tramoy R, Mabilais D, Ricordel S, Verdier L, Tassin B, Gasperi J. Macroplastic transfer dynamics in the Loire estuary: Similarities and specificities with macrotidal estuaries. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 182:114019. [PMID: 35963225 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The quantification of macroplastic fluxes transferred by rivers toward the pelagic environment requires a better understanding of macrodebris transfer processes in estuarine environments. Following the strategy adopted in the Seine estuary, this study aims to characterize macroplastic trajectories in the Loire estuary. Between January 2020 and July 2021, 35 trajectories were monitored using plastic bottles equipped with GPS-trackers. With total travelled distances between 100 m and 103.6 km, trajectories show great spatiotemporal variability. The various forcing factors (macroplastic buoyancy, estuaries tidal and hydrometeorological conditions, geomorphology and vegetation) lead to chaotic trajectories, preventing accurate predictions in macroplastic transfer and storage/remobilization dynamics. In the Loire estuary like in the Seine one, no tracked bottle reached the Atlantic Ocean. It confirms that macrotidal estuaries under temperate climates constitute accumulation zones and slow pathways for macroplastics, but raises question on the real fluxes transferred from continental areas to oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ledieu
- Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, F-44344 Bouguenais, France.
| | - R Tramoy
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, LEESU, F-94010 Créteil, France; Ecole des Ponts, LEESU, F-77455 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | - D Mabilais
- Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, F-44344 Bouguenais, France
| | - S Ricordel
- Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, F-44344 Bouguenais, France
| | - L Verdier
- Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, F-44344 Bouguenais, France
| | - B Tassin
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, LEESU, F-94010 Créteil, France; Ecole des Ponts, LEESU, F-77455 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | - J Gasperi
- Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, F-44344 Bouguenais, France.
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