Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers

Microplastics (< 5 mm in size) are known to be widespread in the marine environment but are still poorly studied in Polar Regions, particularly in the Antarctic. As penguins have a wide distribution around Antarctica, three congeneric species: Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis an...

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Published in:Science of The Total Environment
Main Authors: Fragao, Joana, Bessa, Filipa, Otero, Vanessa, Barbosa, Andrés, Sobral, Paula, Waluda, Claire M., Xavier, José C.
Other Authors: Universidade de Coimbra, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/246684
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100003329
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100005727
id ftcsic:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/246684
record_format openpolar
spelling ftcsic:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/246684 2024-02-11T09:56:47+01:00 Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers Fragao, Joana Bessa, Filipa Otero, Vanessa Barbosa, Andrés Sobral, Paula Waluda, Claire M. Xavier, José C. Universidade de Coimbra Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España) Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España) 2021-09-20 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/246684 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698 https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 https://doi.org/10.13039/501100003329 https://doi.org/10.13039/501100005727 en eng Elsevier #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE# info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013-2016/CTM2015-64720 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721027698 Sí Science of the Total Environment 788: 147698 (2021) 0048-9697 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/246684 doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005727 none Antarctic Peninsula Scotia Sea Plastic pollution Microplastics Cellulose Antarctic top predators artículo http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 2021 ftcsic https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.14769810.13039/50110001103310.13039/50110000332910.13039/501100005727 2024-01-16T11:11:37Z Microplastics (< 5 mm in size) are known to be widespread in the marine environment but are still poorly studied in Polar Regions, particularly in the Antarctic. As penguins have a wide distribution around Antarctica, three congeneric species: Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) were selected to evaluate the occurrence of microplastics across the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea. Scat samples (used as a proxy of ingestion), were collected from breeding colonies over seven seasons between 2006 and 2016. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), present in scat samples, contributed 85%, 66% and 54% of the diet in terms of frequency of occurrence to the diet of Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, respectively. Microplastics were found in 15%, 28% and 29% scats of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguin respectively. A total of 92 particles were extracted from the scats (n = 317) and 32% (n = 29) were chemically identified via micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). From all the particles extracted, 35% were identified as microplastics, particularly polyethylene (80%) and polyester (10%). It was not possible to ascertain the identification of the remaining 10% of samples. Other anthropogenic particles were identified in 55% of samples, identified as cellulose fibres. The results show a similar frequency of occurrence of particles across all colonies, suggesting there is no particular point source for microplastic pollution in the Scotia Sea. Additionally, no clear temporal variation in the number of microplastics in penguins was observed. Overall, this study reveals the presence of microplastics across Antarctica, in three penguin species and offers evidence of other anthropogenic particles in high numbers. Further research is needed to better understand the spatio-temporal dynamics, fate and effect of microplastics on these ecosystems, and improve plastic pollution policies in Antarctica. The work was supported by the University of ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Krill Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica antarcticus Euphausia superba Gentoo penguin Pygoscelis adeliae Pygoscelis papua Scotia Sea Digital.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Scotia Sea The Antarctic Science of The Total Environment 788 147698
institution Open Polar
collection Digital.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council)
op_collection_id ftcsic
language English
topic Antarctic Peninsula
Scotia Sea
Plastic pollution
Microplastics
Cellulose
Antarctic top predators
spellingShingle Antarctic Peninsula
Scotia Sea
Plastic pollution
Microplastics
Cellulose
Antarctic top predators
Fragao, Joana
Bessa, Filipa
Otero, Vanessa
Barbosa, Andrés
Sobral, Paula
Waluda, Claire M.
Xavier, José C.
Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
topic_facet Antarctic Peninsula
Scotia Sea
Plastic pollution
Microplastics
Cellulose
Antarctic top predators
description Microplastics (< 5 mm in size) are known to be widespread in the marine environment but are still poorly studied in Polar Regions, particularly in the Antarctic. As penguins have a wide distribution around Antarctica, three congeneric species: Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) were selected to evaluate the occurrence of microplastics across the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea. Scat samples (used as a proxy of ingestion), were collected from breeding colonies over seven seasons between 2006 and 2016. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), present in scat samples, contributed 85%, 66% and 54% of the diet in terms of frequency of occurrence to the diet of Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, respectively. Microplastics were found in 15%, 28% and 29% scats of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguin respectively. A total of 92 particles were extracted from the scats (n = 317) and 32% (n = 29) were chemically identified via micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). From all the particles extracted, 35% were identified as microplastics, particularly polyethylene (80%) and polyester (10%). It was not possible to ascertain the identification of the remaining 10% of samples. Other anthropogenic particles were identified in 55% of samples, identified as cellulose fibres. The results show a similar frequency of occurrence of particles across all colonies, suggesting there is no particular point source for microplastic pollution in the Scotia Sea. Additionally, no clear temporal variation in the number of microplastics in penguins was observed. Overall, this study reveals the presence of microplastics across Antarctica, in three penguin species and offers evidence of other anthropogenic particles in high numbers. Further research is needed to better understand the spatio-temporal dynamics, fate and effect of microplastics on these ecosystems, and improve plastic pollution policies in Antarctica. The work was supported by the University of ...
author2 Universidade de Coimbra
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Fragao, Joana
Bessa, Filipa
Otero, Vanessa
Barbosa, Andrés
Sobral, Paula
Waluda, Claire M.
Xavier, José C.
author_facet Fragao, Joana
Bessa, Filipa
Otero, Vanessa
Barbosa, Andrés
Sobral, Paula
Waluda, Claire M.
Xavier, José C.
author_sort Fragao, Joana
title Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
title_short Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
title_full Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
title_fullStr Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
title_full_unstemmed Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers
title_sort microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in antarctica: using penguins as biological samplers
publisher Elsevier
publishDate 2021
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/246684
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100003329
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100005727
geographic Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Scotia Sea
The Antarctic
geographic_facet Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Scotia Sea
The Antarctic
genre Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Krill
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
antarcticus
Euphausia superba
Gentoo penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Pygoscelis papua
Scotia Sea
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctic Krill
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
antarcticus
Euphausia superba
Gentoo penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Pygoscelis papua
Scotia Sea
op_relation #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013-2016/CTM2015-64720
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721027698

Science of the Total Environment 788: 147698 (2021)
0048-9697
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/246684
doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147698
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011033
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005727
op_rights none
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.14769810.13039/50110001103310.13039/50110000332910.13039/501100005727
container_title Science of The Total Environment
container_volume 788
container_start_page 147698
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