Plastic ingestion in Asian elephants in the forested landscapes of Uttarakhand, India

Katlam, Gitanjali; Prasad, S; Pande, Anant; Ramchiary, Nirala

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126196

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…The low excretion of potential MPs in the feces of Asian elephants, despite their large body size and potential for greater exposure to plastics in the human-dominated landscapes of western Thailand, could be due to the ability of larger mammals to defecate potential MPs along with other inedible and indigestible items ( Lusher et al, 2018 ). Although Asian elephants are known to ingest large pieces of plastics and excrete them in their feces ( Katlam et al, 2022 ), and large mammals are believed to retain plastics longer in their digestive systems ( Carlsson, Singdahl-Larsen & Lusher, 2021 ), our study was not designed to verify that large pieces of plastics are the main source of MPs in the feces of Asian elephants. Further necropsy investigations would be needed to confirm this ( Carlsson, Singdahl-Larsen & Lusher, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using feces to indicate plastic pollution in terrestrial vertebrate species in western Thailand

Teampanpong,

Duengkae

2024

PeerJ

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Plastic pollution is a widespread and growing concern due to its transformation into microplastics (MPs), which can harm organisms and ecosystems. This study, aimed to identify plastic pollution in the feces of terrestrial vertebrates using convenience sampling both inside and outside protected areas in Western Thailand. We hypothesized that MPs are likely to be detectable in the feces of all vertebrate species, primarily in the form of small black fragments. We predicted varying quantities of MPs in the feces of the same species across different protected areas. Furthermore, we expected that factors indicating human presence, landscape characteristics, scat weight, and the MP abundance in water, soils, and sediments would influence the presence of plastics in feces. Among 12 terrestrial species studied, potential MPs were found in 41.11% of 90 samples, totaling 83 pieces across eight species including the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), and Butterfly lizard (Leiolepis belliana). Specifically, 3.61% of all potential MPs (three pieces) were macroplastics, and the remaining 96.39% were considered potential MPs with the abundance of 0.92 ± 1.89 items.scat−1 or 8.69 ± 32.56 items.100 g−1 dw. There was an association between the numbers of feces with and without potential plastics and species (χ2 = 20.88, p = 0.012). Most potential plastics were fibers (95.18%), predominantly black (56.63%) or blue (26.51%), with 74.70% smaller than two millimeters. Although there were no significant associations between species and plastic morphologies, colors, and sizes, the abundance classified by these characteristics varied significantly. FTIR identified 52.38% as natural fibers, 38.10% as synthetic fibers (rayon, polyurethane (PUR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and PUR blended with cotton), and 9.52% as fragments of PET and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Human-related factors were linked to the occurrence of potential plastics found in the feces of land-dwelling wildlife. This study enhances the understanding of plastic pollution in tropical protected areas, revealing the widespread of MPs even in small numbers from the areas distant from human settlements. Monitoring plastics in feces offers a non-invasive method for assessing plastic pollution in threatened species, as it allows for easy collection and taxonomic identification without harming live animals. However, stringent measures to assure the quality are necessitated to prevent exogenous MP contamination. These findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, especially regarding plastic products from clothing and plastic materials used in agriculture and irrigation systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using feces to indicate plastic pollution in terrestrial vertebrate species in western Thailand

Teampanpong,

Duengkae

2024

PeerJ

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“…The information available in the Americas does not allow us to determine whether plastics present in fecal samples are determined by their feeding grounds linked to urban areas given the paucity of data. However, in pachyderms, up to 32% of the fecal samples analyzed had plastics associated with human-modified habitats where plastic waste was improperly dumped (Katlam et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…The individual retention time within the bird species plays an important role, and is affected by the polymer type, regurgitation, and the occurrence of aforementioned internal fragmentation, leading to size reduction and finally,excretion (Ryan, 2015;van Franeker and Law, 2015). Macrofauna-aided plastic dispersal has been further documented in the Asian elephant, who appears to spread ingested plastic debris into areas free from anthropogenic influence after foraging at waste sites (Katlam et al, 2022).…”

Section: Implications Of Macrofaunal Plastic Fragmentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transforming Encounters: A review of the drivers and mechanisms of macrofaunal plastic fragmentation in the environment

Rambacher¹,

Pantos²,

Hardwick³

et al. 2023

Camb. prisms Plast.

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Plastic has infiltrated every ecosystem on the planet, making encounters between this anthropogenic pollutant and fauna inevitable. Abiotic environmental breakdown involving light, oxygen, temperature and mechanical forces is well-characterized, while biotic degradation mechanisms are less well-understood. Reports of the role of macrofauna in the fragmentation of plastic debris are increasing. This review explores the driving factors for macrofaunal fragmentation, as well as the physiological mechanisms by which plastic items are fragmented. The presence, and access to plastic within an organism's habitat are the key determinants of macrofaunal plastic degradation. Foraging strategies, along with burrowing and nesting behaviors increase the likelihood of macrofauna interacting with plastics. Though this type of fragmentation can occur externally, it often follows ingestion, which in itself can be driven by resemblance to food. Four physical mechanisms of macrofaunal plastic fragmentation were identified, namely biting, drilling, grazing and grinding. Biting, restricted to the mouthparts of an organism, was the most common form of macrofaunal fragmentation reported in literature. Similarly, the use of specialized mouthparts for drilling or grazing can produce secondary plastic particles. Lastly, grinding, through manipulation by the gizzard or gastric mill following ingestion can significantly reduce the size of the plastic material. Prolonged and/or repeated interactions with plastics pose the risk of increased wear on the mouthparts and digestive organs involved. Through mechanisms that directly affect the plastic's structural integrity, physical fragmentation by macrofauna can amplify overall plastic degradation rates and the formation of micro-and nanoplastics in the environment, while long internal retention times can contribute to their dispersal, trophic transfer, and the organism's exposure to plastic additives. To more fully understand the extent of macrofaunal plastic fragmentation and allow predictive modeling, we suggest the reporting of evidence in a unified and systematic way. Our findings further highlight the urgency for the implementation of a global plastic waste management system to reduce the burden of micro-and nanoplastics. Impact statementAs plastic is found in every ecosystem of the planet, encounters between organisms and this anthropogenic pollutant are inevitable. The breakdown of plastic through exposure to environmental elements and microbes is well understood, however, the role of larger organisms in this breakdown is unclear. By systematically categorizing both drivers and aspects of encounters with plastic debris, and internal and external mechanisms directly causing plastic to fragment, this work highlights the extent of the contribution of macrofauna to the environmental fate of plastic debris. Beyond expected mechanical wear on the mouthparts and digestive tract of the animals, the resulting smaller size makes the plastic particles availability to a wider range of organisms and c...

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Plastic ingestion in Asian elephants in the forested landscapes of Uttarakhand, India

Cited by 9 publications

References 74 publications

Using feces to indicate plastic pollution in terrestrial vertebrate species in western Thailand

Using feces to indicate plastic pollution in terrestrial vertebrate species in western Thailand

Terrestrial mammals of the Americas and their interactions with plastic waste

Transforming Encounters: A review of the drivers and mechanisms of macrofaunal plastic fragmentation in the environment

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