Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis identifies microplastics in stranded common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from New Zealand waters

Stockin, Karen A.; Pantos, Olga; Betty, Emma L.; Pawley, Matthew D. M.; Doake, Fraser; Masterton, Hayden; Palmer, Emily I.; Perrott, Matthew R.; Nelms, Sarah E.; Machovsky‐Capuska, Gabriel E.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113084

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…Stockin et al (2021), the first study involving common dolphins in New Zealand waters, reported 77% of microplastics as fragments and only 23% as fibers. To date, Stockin et al (2021) is the only study to report fragments as the leading microplastic morphology in odontocetes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hart et al (2022) reported that transparent films and white foams were the most common morphologies, although they were part of the only study that collected gastric samples from live specimens, while all other studies assessed stranded, deceased samples. Stockin et al (2021), the first study involving common dolphins in New Zealand waters, reported 77% of microplastics as fragments and only 23% as fibers. To date, Stockin et al (2021) is the only study to report fragments as the leading microplastic morphology in odontocetes.…”

Section: Characteristics Of Microplastics and Microparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These consequences are recorded in many cetacean species, but the literature on microplastic ingestion is not as robust. It is known that odontocetes take up and accumulate plastic particles primarily via secondary ingestion, defined as the consumption of prey through trophic levels (Nelms et al, 2018; Stockin et al, 2021). As a tertiary species in the food web, odontocetes are an important ecological indicator of their marine environment and typically contain the highest levels of contaminants, particularly those that biomagnify (Wells et al, 2004; Zhu et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Quantitative Analysis of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Odontocetes in the Southeast Region of the United States

Courville,

Borkowski,

Sonnenberg

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Microplastics (<5 mm in diameter) are ubiquitous in the oceanic environment, yet microplastic accumulation in marine mammals is vastly understudied. In recent years, efforts have been made to document microplastic profiles in odontocetes. The objective of the present study was to describe and quantify microplastics in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of deceased odontocetes that stranded in the southeastern United States. Our study included 24 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), two pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), one pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), one short‐snouted spinner dolphin (Stenella clymene), one Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), and one dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) obtained from stranding networks in Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Contents found in the GI tracts, namely, the stomach and portions of the intestinal tract, were subjected to a laboratory procedure to isolate microplastics. The physical characteristics of microparticles were analyzed with a stereomicroscope, and microplastics were classified by polymer type via Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. There was an average of 47.6 ± 41.4 microparticles, ranging from 1 to 193 items per stomach. More specifically, there was an average of 5.6 ± 4.7 microplastics per stomach. The predominant morphologies, colors, and polymer types were fibers, white‐colored items, and polyester, respectively. This research contributes to the current knowledge of microplastic exposure in top marine mammal predators and sets the stage for further exploration into the associated risks of microplastics in odontocetes within the United States and worldwide. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1–14. © 2024 SETAC

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characteristics Of Microplastics and Microparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Quantitative Analysis of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Odontocetes in the Southeast Region of the United States

Courville,

Borkowski,

Sonnenberg

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Sperm whales regularly live-strand or beach-cast along the New Zealand coastline, with New Zealand being 1 of 3 areas where mass stranding events of sperm whales frequently occur, with the other areas being the North Sea (Jauniaux et al 1998, Vanselow et al 2009 and southern Australian waters (Evans et al 2004, Sundaram et al 2006. Marine mammal strandings offer valuable information on populations and species, including population dynamics, ecology, life history and morphology, toxicology, histology, and genetic relationships (Chiquet et al 2013, Peters et al 2020, Lischka et al 2021, Stockin et al 2021, Reeves et al 2022. These data can indicate health status of individuals and populations (IJsseldijk et al 2018), even if only tissue samples such as skin can be collected and archived long-term (Mazzariol et al 2011).…”

Section: Maori Abstractmentioning

confidence: 99%

A piece of the puzzle: analyses of recent strandings and historical records reveal new genetic and ecological insights on New Zealand sperm whales

Palmer

Alexander

Liggins

et al. 2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Cetacean strandings provide important opportunities to extend current knowledge on species or populations, particularly for species that are notoriously difficult to study, such as sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus (parāoa). Between 25 May and 9 June 2018, 13 male sperm whales stranded in Taranaki, New Zealand (NZ), with an additional male stranding 1 mo later in Clifford Bay, Marlborough. We profiled these 14 males for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to examine their similarity to sperm whales from other geographic areas. Analyses of mtDNA revealed 7 haplotypes, including 1 not previously described (‘New’), and an additional haplotype (‘M’) new to NZ that had been previously reported in sperm whales of the Pacific region. Analysis of rare haplotypes found in NZ males suggested genetic links within NZ and the Southwest Pacific. Differences in stable isotope ratios indicated that, despite the close temporal proximity of these stranding events, individuals originated from at least 2 separate groups, with the whale stranded in Clifford Bay identified as being a regular visitor to Kaikōura, South Island. The analysis of stranding records in NZ dating back to 1873 indicated an increase in recorded single strandings since 1970, and a peak in single strandings in the austral summer months, but no seasonality for mass strandings. Sex predicted latitudinal location for single strandings, with 95.1% of female strandings occurring north of 42° S, fitting the general global distribution of female sperm whales limited to lower latitudes. This study provides the first temporal and spatial assessment of sperm whale strandings in NZ and highlights the need for future research on movements and genetic exchange between NZ sperm whales and sperm whales in the wider Pacific region.

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“…Less is known for common dolphins in the Southern Hemisphere, with only a single study in the western South Atlantic (Grandi et al 2022 ). Such paucity of data has been of concern for Australasia, where common dolphins are subject to several anthropogenic impacts including pollutants (Lavery et al 2008 ; Stockin et al 2021a , b ), tourism (Neumann and Orams 2005 , 2006 ; Stockin et al 2008 ; Meissner et al 2015 ), and fisheries bycatch (Hamer et al 2008 ; Stockin et al 2009 ; Thompson et al 2013 ; Allen et al 2014 ; Mackay and Goldsworthy 2017 ; Barceló et al 2021 ; Parra et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive biology of male common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in New Zealand waters

Palmer,

Betty,

Murphy

et al. 2023

Mar Biol

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Reproductive parameters were assessed in 64 male common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) examined post-mortem from strandings and bycatch in New Zealand between 1999 and 2020. The stages of male sexual maturation were assessed using morphological measurements and histological examination of testicular tissue. Age was determined via growth layer groups (GLGs) in teeth. The average age (ASM) and length (LSM) at attainment of sexual maturity were estimated to be 8.8 years and 198.3 cm, respectively. Individual variation in ASM (7.5–10 years) and LSM (190–220 cm) was observed in New Zealand common dolphins. However, on average, sexual maturity was attained at a similar length but at a marginally younger age (< 1 year) in New Zealand compared to populations in the Northern Hemisphere. All testicular variables proved better predictors of sexual maturity compared to demographic variables (age and total body length), with combined testes weight the best outright predictor of sexual maturity. Reproductive seasonality was observed in male common dolphins, with a significant increase in combined testes weight in austral summer. This aligns with most other studied populations, where seasonality in reproduction is typically observed. Given the known anthropogenic impacts on New Zealand common dolphins, we recommend that these findings be used as a baseline from which to monitor population-level changes as part of conservation management efforts.

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Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis identifies microplastics in stranded common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from New Zealand waters

Cited by 20 publications

References 92 publications

A Quantitative Analysis of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Odontocetes in the Southeast Region of the United States

A Quantitative Analysis of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Odontocetes in the Southeast Region of the United States

A piece of the puzzle: analyses of recent strandings and historical records reveal new genetic and ecological insights on New Zealand sperm whales

Reproductive biology of male common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in New Zealand waters

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