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...
Published in: | Science of The Total Environment |
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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 |
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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 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 |
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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1790605845528051712 |