Plastic Debris and Its Impacts on Marine Mammals

Kruse, Katrin; Knickmeier, Katrin; Brennecke, Dennis; Unger, Bianca; Siebert, Ursula

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-06836-2_4

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…As the largest animals on Earth, whales (Mammalia: Cetacea) are at an exceptionally high risk of ingesting plastics [11,28,[41][42][43]. A flurry of recent studies has documented the presence of various-sized plastics within digestive tracts or incorporated into tissues of whales [44].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Baleen–Plastic Interactions Reveal High Risk to All Filter-Feeding Whales from Clogging, Ingestion, and Entanglement

Werth,

Kahane-Rapport,

Potvin

et al. 2024

Oceans

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Baleen whales are ecosystem sentinels of microplastic pollution. Research indicates that they likely ingest millions of anthropogenic microparticles per day when feeding. Their immense prey consumption and filter-feeding behavior put them at risk. However, the role of baleen, the oral filtering structure of mysticete whales, in this process has not been adequately addressed. Using actual baleen tissue from four whale species (fin, humpback, minke, and North Atlantic right) in flow tank experiments, we tested the capture rate of plastics of varying size, shape, and polymer type, as well as chemical residues leached by degraded plastics, all of which accumulated in the baleen filter. Expanded polystyrene foam was the most readily captured type of plastic, followed by fragments, fibers, nurdles, and spherical microbeads. Nurdle and microbead pellets were captured most readily by right whale baleen, and fragments were captured by humpback baleen. Although not all differences between polymer types were statistically significant, buoyant polymers were most often trapped by baleen. Plastics were captured by baleen sections from all regions of a full baleen rack, but were more readily captured by baleen from dorsal and posterior regions. Baleen–plastic interactions underlie various risks to whales, including filter clogging and damage, which may impede feeding. We posit that plastics pose a higher risk to some whale species due to a combination of factors, including filter porosity, diet, habitat and geographic distribution, and foraging ecology and behavior. Certain whale species in specific marine regions are of the greatest concern due to plastic abundance. It is not feasible to remove all plastic from the sea; most of what is there will continue to break into ever-smaller pieces. We suggest that higher priorities be accorded to lessening humans’ dependence on plastics, restricting entry points of plastics into the ocean, and developing biodegradable alternatives.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Baleen–Plastic Interactions Reveal High Risk to All Filter-Feeding Whales from Clogging, Ingestion, and Entanglement

Werth,

Kahane-Rapport,

Potvin

et al. 2024

Oceans

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“…1,2 Plastics find extensive application in daily life owing to their cost-effectiveness, resilience and lightweight nature. 3,4 In 2019, worldwide plastic production surged to 368 million metric tons (Mt) and it is projected to undergo a twofold increase within a span of 20 years. 5,6 Current estimates indicate that the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment is projected to surpass 250 million tons by the year 2025.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecotoxicological significance of bio-corona formation on micro/nanoplastics in aquatic organisms

Debroy

Nirmala

et al. 2023

RSC Adv.

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Impact of plastic pollution on faunal survival with probable sustainable solutions

Das,

Mandal,

Chakraborty

2023

A Basic Overview of Environment and Sustainable Development [Volume 2]

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Every day, millions of tons of plastic waste are produced by humans which causes severe impacts on our ecosystem and biodiversity. Nowadays plastic is the main anthropogenic waste material globally due to irrational production, inappropriate and unscientific disposal, and inadequate recycling management of plastic. As a result, the fauna of the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems both are in danger of plastic pollution. Birds are an important part of our biodiversity and they are affected by plastic pollution. Nowadays, birds use plastic debris for different purposes which ultimately causes the death of birds. Plastic waste occupies the global landscape and has parallel impacts on different species of insects. Bees have started to use plastics as brood material. Marine and land mammals both are severely affected by plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is an emergency danger for coral reefs and all food webs do exist at coral reefs. Every day many fish lose their life by suffocation from entering plastic bags and eating or entangling plastic debris. Plastic pollution has many harmful effects on amphibians and reptiles such as habitat disruption, disease transmission, reproductive and physical health problems, etc. In this book chapter, we have discussed the effect of plastic pollution on different types of faunal survival as well as diversity and also probable sustainable solutions to save our mother earth and its fauna from plastic pollution.

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Plastic Debris and Its Impacts on Marine Mammals

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Baleen–Plastic Interactions Reveal High Risk to All Filter-Feeding Whales from Clogging, Ingestion, and Entanglement

Baleen–Plastic Interactions Reveal High Risk to All Filter-Feeding Whales from Clogging, Ingestion, and Entanglement

Ecotoxicological significance of bio-corona formation on micro/nanoplastics in aquatic organisms

Impact of plastic pollution on faunal survival with probable sustainable solutions

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