Heidi Acampora, Simon Berrow, Stephen Newton, Ian O’Connor, Presence of
plastic litter in pellets from Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in
Ireland, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 117, Issues 1–2, 15 April
2017, Pages 512-514, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.015.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17301303)
Abstract: Abstract
Plastic pollution has been the subject of much research in the last
decade. Seabirds can mistake plastic fragments for prey, which can
perforate or block the digestive tract and cause ulcers. Most commonly,
seabirds accumulate this indigestible matter in their stomachs,
obtaining no nutrition and may die from starvation. Certain species of
seabirds however, have the ability of regurgitating indigestible matter
in the form of pellets. This study aimed to investigate the ingestion of
plastics by live seabirds through the examination of regurgitated
pellets (n = 92) from a Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) breeding
colony and a winter roost in Ireland. Plastic prevalence was
consistently 3.2% at both sites. The presence of plastic litter
highlights the fact that all species of seabird are susceptible to
interact with marine litter regardless of feeding habits, although at
different rates. More research is needed to understand the driving
factors involved in plastic ingestion among different species.
Keywords: Marine litter; Plastics; Seabirds; Phalacrocoracidae; Pellets