From social networks to bird enthusiasts: reporting interactions between plastic waste and birds in Peru

Ayala, Félix; Vizcarra, Jhonson K.; Castillo-Morales, Karen; Torres-Zevallos, Uriel; Cordero-Maldonado, Cristel; Ampuero-Merino, Lyanne; Herrera-Peralta, Kárlom; De-la-Torre, Gabriel Enrique; Angulo, Fernando; Cárdenas‐Alayza, Susana

doi:10.1017/s037689292300005x

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Neotropic cormorants are considerably affected by entanglement in ghost nylon nets and the use of plastic for their nests ( Ayala et al, 2023 ). Plastic has already permeated the marine trophic web in Peru, with reports in fish ( De-la Torre et al, 2019 ; Fernández & Anastasopoulou, 2019 ), seabirds ( Thiel et al, 2018 ; Díaz-Santibañez, Clark & Zavalaga, 2023 ), and marine mammals ( Perez-Venegas et al, 2020 ; Santillán, Saldaña Serrano & De-la Torre, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The COVID-19 pandemic “anthropause” decreased plastic ingestion in neotropic cormorants Nannopterum brasilianus in Lima, Peru

Porras-Parra,

Zavalaga,

Rios

2024

PeerJ

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Background The anthropause during the recent COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to examine the impact of human activity on seabirds. Lockdowns in Peru prevented people from visiting coastal areas, thereby reducing garbage disposal on beaches and the movement of microplastics into the ocean. This cessation of activities likely led to a temporary decrease in plastic pollution in coastal regions. We aimed to investigate this phenomenon in inshore-feeding neotropic cormorants (Nannopterum brasilianus) along the Circuito de Playas Costa Verde (CPCV), situated on the coastal strip of Lima, Peru (∼ 11 million people). Methods We collected and analyzed fresh pellets along the CPCV before (over 11 months) and during the pandemic lockdowns (over 8 months). Results Our findings revealed a significant reduction in the occurrence of plastic in pellets during the pandemic period (% Oc = 2.47, n = 647 pellets) compared to pre-pandemic conditions (% Oc = 7.13, n = 800 pellets). The most common plastic debris item found in the pellets was threadlike microplastic. Additionally, our study highlights the direct correlation between human presence on beaches and the quantity of microplastics (mainly threadlike) found in cormorant pellets. We suggest that the reintroduction of these materials into the sea, previously accumulated on the coast, is likely facilitated by the movement and activity of beachgoers toward the ocean.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The COVID-19 pandemic “anthropause” decreased plastic ingestion in neotropic cormorants Nannopterum brasilianus in Lima, Peru

Porras-Parra,

Zavalaga,

Rios

2024

PeerJ

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“…Our understanding of the scale and impact of plastic entanglement on terrestrial species is, by comparison, very limited. Most studies on this topic have focused on birds [29][30][31][32], though entanglement is also reported in mammals such as the black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), white-tailed opossum (Didelphis albiventris), fat mice (Thylamys sp. ), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), and artic fox (Alopex lagopus) [19,33,34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Entanglement Poses a Potential Hazard to European Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus in Great Britain

Thrift

Nouvellet

Mathews

2023

Animals

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A questionnaire to gather evidence on the plastic entanglement of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was sent to 160 wildlife rehabilitation centres in Great Britain. Fifty-four responses were received, and 184 individual admissions owing to plastic entanglement were reported. Death was the outcome for 46% (n = 86) of these cases. A high proportion of Britain’s hedgehogs enter rehabilitation centres annually (approximately 5% of the national population and potentially 10% of the urban population), providing a robust basis for assessing the minimum impacts at a national level. We estimate that 4000–7000 hedgehog deaths per year are attributable to plastic, with the true rate likely being higher, since many entangled hedgehogs—in contrast to those involved in road traffic accidents—will not be found. Population modelling indicates that this excess mortality is sufficient to cause population declines. Although the scale of the impact is much lower than that attributable to traffic, it is nevertheless an additional pressure on a species that is already in decline and presents a significant welfare issue to a large number of individuals.

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Terrestrial mammals of the Americas and their interactions with plastic waste

Ayala

Zeta-Flores

Ramos-Baldárrago³

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Plastics have brought many benefits to society, but their mismanagement has turned them into a serious environmental problem. Today, the effects of plastic waste on wildlife are becoming increasingly evident. Since studies on plastic pollution have focused on species in marine ecosystems, here we review current knowledge on interactions between terrestrial mammals and plastic waste in the countries of the Americas, which is a global hotspot of mammalian biodiversity and in turn has, among its member countries, nations with high per capita generations of plastic waste globally. We identified 46 scientific articles documenting plastic ingestion in 37 species and four species that used plastic waste for nest or burrow construction. Of the 46 investigations, seven focused on plastic contamination, while the others reported on the presence of plastics in wildlife, even though this was not the primary focus of the research. However, these publications lack analytical methods commonly used in plastic studies, and only one study applied a standardized methodology for plastic detection. Therefore, in general, plastic pollution research on terrestrial mammals is limited. We extend several recommendations such as designing methodologies that are adapted to terrestrial mammals for the identification of plastics in fecal matter or gastrointestinal contents, carrying out species-specific analyzes on the impacts of plastics in nests or burrows, and giving further attention to this understudied issue and taxa. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-023-26617-x.

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From social networks to bird enthusiasts: reporting interactions between plastic waste and birds in Peru

Cited by 11 publications

References 47 publications

The COVID-19 pandemic “anthropause” decreased plastic ingestion in neotropic cormorants Nannopterum brasilianus in Lima, Peru

The COVID-19 pandemic “anthropause” decreased plastic ingestion in neotropic cormorants Nannopterum brasilianus in Lima, Peru

Plastic Entanglement Poses a Potential Hazard to European Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus in Great Britain

Terrestrial mammals of the Americas and their interactions with plastic waste

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