Evaluating exposure of northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, to microplastic pollution through fecal analysis

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:138

Article

Donohue, Mary J.^1,2  Masura, Julie³  Gelatt, Thomas⁴  Ream, Rolf⁴  Baker, Jason D.⁵  Faulhaber, Kayleigh³  Lerner, Darren T.^1,2 

[1] Univ Hawaii Manoa, Univ Hawaii Sea Grant Coll Program, Sch Ocean & Earth Sci & Technol, 2525 Correa Rd,Hawaii Inst Geophys 238, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA

[2] Univ Hawaii Manoa, Univ Hawaii Water Resources Res Ctr, 2540 Dole St,Holmes Hall 283, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA

[3] Univ Washington, Ctr Urban Waters, 1900 Commerce St, Tacoma, WA 98402 USA

[4] NOAA, Marine Mammal Lab, Alaska Fisheries Sci Ctr, 7600 Sand Point Way NE F-AKC3, Seattle, WA 98115 USA

[5] NOAA IRC, Pacific Isl Fisheries Sci Ctr, Protected Species Div, 1845 Wasp Blvd,Bldg 176, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA

关键词: Northern fur seal;    Microplastics;    Marine debris;    Bioaccumulation;    Pacific Ocean;    Trophic transfer;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.036

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Environmental microplastics are widely documented in marine life and bioaccumulation may present risks to marine predators. Investigations of microplastics in marine mammals are increasing, though none have examined animals routinely consumed by humans. Here, we investigate microplastic exposure in the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), a species consumed by humans, using fecal material. We examined 44 feces (scat) at sites encompassing the seals' eastern Pacific range. Multiple contamination control measures were implemented, including field and laboratory controls. Fragments were the most common microplastic recovered, in 55% (24/44) of scat and no controls (range 1 to 86 fragments/scat, mean 16.6, sd 19.1). Microplastic fibers were recovered from 41% of scats (18/44), though some controls contained fibers confounding fiber results. Fecal analysis documented northern fur seal exposure to microplastics throughout their eastern Pacific range.

【 授权许可】

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