Sarah Baulch, Clare Perry, Evaluating the impacts of marine debris on
cetaceans, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 11 February 2014,
ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.12.050.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13007984)
Abstract: Global in its distribution and pervading all levels of the
water column, marine debris poses a serious threat to marine habitats
and wildlife. For cetaceans, ingestion or entanglement in debris can
cause chronic and acute injuries and increase pollutant loads, resulting
in morbidity and mortality. However, knowledge of the severity of
effects lags behind that for other species groups. This literature
review examines the impacts of marine debris on cetaceans reported to
date. It finds that ingestion of debris has been documented in 48 (56%
of) cetacean species, with rates of ingestion as high as 31% in some
populations. Debris-induced mortality rates of 0–22% of stranded animals
were documented, suggesting that debris could be a significant
conservation threat to some populations. We identify key data that need
to be collected and published to improve understanding of the threat
that marine debris poses to cetaceans.
Keywords: Marine debris; Cetaceans; Entanglement; Ingestion; Plastic