150
MICRO 2016. Fate and Impact of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems
differences among species. We quantified, classified, measured, and
weighted the plastics accumulated in 316 stomachs from 3 shearwater
and 2 gull species accidentally captured by longliners in the western
Mediterranean from 2003 to 2015. Scopoli’s shearwaters (Calonectris
diomedea) showed the highest plastic frequency (71.58%), followed by
Balearic shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus, 46.91%) and Yelkouan
shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan, 56.86%). In contrast, the gulls presented the lowest.
Monitoring Plastic Ingestion in Selected
Azorean Marine Organisms
Y. Rodríguez1, J.P.G.L. Frias2,3, R. Carriço2,3, V. Neves2,3,4, J. Bried2,3,
H.R. Martins2,3, F. Vandeperre2,3, M.R. Santos5, J.A. van Franeker6,
A.B. Bolten7, K.A. Bjorndal7 and C.K. Pham2,3
1
OMA Observatório do Mar dos Açores, Horta, Portugal 2MARE Marine and Environmental
Sciences Centre, Horta, Portugal 3IMAR Instituto do Mar, Horta, Portugal 4University of the
Azores, Horta, Portugal 5DRAM Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar, Horta, Portugal
6
IMARES Wageningen-UR, Den Helder, Netherlands 7University of Florida, Gainesville, FL,
United States
Despite its geographic isolation from large population centers, the
Azores archipelago (north-eastern Atlantic) is not immune to the growing environmental threat of marine litter. Recent research developments suggest that many organisms are directly affected by this issue
that should be addressed with consistent monitoring efforts.
The goal of this study is to present the results of recent and past
monitoring efforts on plastic ingestion in different food-web components (seabirds, fish, and sea turtles) in the Azores.
A total of 421 dead Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) were
collected during different fledgling periods between 2000 12 and 2015
from different islands. These birds were mainly road kills but also
included individuals, which collided with buildings and other structures, or birds, which were dehydrated. Plastic fragments were found
in the stomachs (proventriculus and gizzard) of a large majority of the
fledglings (93%), although quantities were well below levels observed
in fulmars in the North Sea.
Abstracts From Posters
151
Plastic ingestion was also monitored in 13 fish species (n 5 209) of
contrasting ecology, ranging from deep benthic to pelagic species. So
far, no plastic particles or other anthropogenic debris were found from
the sampled digestive tracts.
Preliminary results concerning plastic ingestion by other marine
organisms will be provided, as this is an ongoing task of the project.
Our results provide important data for establishing appropriate indicator species to monitor ingestion and abundance of plastic in the
Azorean waters. The establishment of a regular program to monitor
the ingestion of plastic in marine organisms is vital to understand
abundance trends and effectively assess future management actions.
Catching a Glimpse of the Lack of
Harmonization Regarding Techniques of
Extraction of Microplastics in Marine Sediments
E. Rojo-Nieto, J. Sánchez-Nieva and J.A. Perales
University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
Plastic is the most abundant marine litter category, and due to its characteristics can remain in the environment for long periods of time, eventually causing impacts on wildlife, tourism, fishing, and shipping
activities (Arthur et al., 2009; Andrady, 2011; Frias et al., 2016; Ivar
do Sul and Costa, 2014; Jang et al., 2014; Thompson et al., 2004).
Microplastics are well-documented pollutants in the marine environment
that result from fragmentation of larger plastic items (Frias et al., 2016).
The ubiquitous presence and persistency of microplastics in aquatic
environments are of particular concern since they represent an increasing
threat to marine organisms and ecosystems (Phuong et al., 2016).
At present, there is no universally accepted definition regarding the
size of microplastics (Van Cauwenberghe et al., 2015). Nowadays,
most researchers agree with the definition of MPs proposed by Arthur
et al. (2009) of microplastics as particles in a size range of less than
5 mm. Marine litter is addressed for the first time in Marine Strategy
Framework Directive (MSFD) in an integrated way towards the
Monitoring plastic ingestion in selected
Azorean marine organisms
Yasmina Rodríguez1, João P.G.L. Frias2,3, Rita Carriço2,3, Verónica Neves2,3,4, Joël Bried2,3, Helen R. Martins2,3,
Frederic Vandeperre2,3, Marco R. Santos5, Jan A. van Franeker6, Alan B. Bolten7, Karen A. Bjorndal7, Christopher K. Pham2,3
1
OMA – Observatório do Mar dos Açores, Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim, Monte da Guia, 9900 Horta, Portugal
2 MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
3 IMAR – Instituto do Mar, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
4 Okeanos – R&D center, University of the Azores, Rua Prof. Dr Frederico Machado, 4, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal.
5 DRAM – Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar, Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia, Colónia Alemã –9900-014 Horta, Portugal
6 IMARES – Wageningen-UR, Ankerpark 27, 1781 AG Den Helder, Netherlands
7 ACCSTR - Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, Department of Biology, PO Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida , USA
Contact: [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
The Azores Archipelago is a remote group of islands located in the northeast Atlantic.
Although it is isolated from large population centres, the Azores is not immune to the
growing environmental threat of marine litter. Recent research developments suggest
that many organisms are directly affected by this issue, which should be addressed by
consistent monitoring.
Here, we present the results of recent and past efforts to document plastic ingestion in
different food-web components in the Azores.
MICRO 2016
International Conference
Poster number 101934
• In 2015; mean size of industrial plastic items was 3.6 ± 0.2 mm, recovered only
from the gizzard.
• Industrial plastic items with light colours were the most frequent (white n=5; aged
n=5 and yellow n=4).
Green
• The mean size of user plastic items was
3.2 ± 0.1 mm, recovered from the gizzard (81%)
and the proventriculus (19%).
White
Blue
Transparen
t
Brown
Orange
Yellow
Grey
• White fragments were the dominant type of
user plastic items found in the fledglings (Fig. 3).
Black
Fig. 3. Color composition of plastic
fragments found in fledglings.
FISH
• No plastic items or any other anthropogenic debris were found from the fish
sampled.
Species
Ecology Size range Depth range* Nº of individuals Nº of plastic items
©Fishpics
©Imagdop
METHODOLOGY
Scomber colias
Trachurus picturatus
Pagrus pagrus
Phycis phycis
Pagellus acarne
Raja clavata
Zeus faber
Pagellus bogaraveo
Lepidopus caudatus
Conger conger
Polyprion americanus
Beryx decadactylus
Helicolenus dactylopterus
Molva macrophthalma
TOTAL
SEABIRDS: Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis)
A total of 421 dead Cory’s shearwater fledglings were collected throughout the
archipelago. Between 1996 and 2012, 272 individuals were obtained from Faial Island
and in 2015, 149 individuals were collected from six different islands (Fig. 1).
Fledglings face several problems when
abandoning the nest as they are
sensitive to artificial night light
pollution. Consequently, the birds
necropsied were mainly road kills but
also included individuals which
collided with buildings and other
structures, or birds which were
dehydrated. Necropsies followed the
methods outlined in van Franeker
(2004).
Fig. 1. Locations of the fledging that were necropsied.
FISH: Commercial species
SEA TURTLES
Frick et al. (2009) analyzed the stomach contents of 12 oceanic-stage loggerheads and
the fecal contents of 4 individuals. Recently, we examined the stomach content of one
dead turtle collected in 2013. In addition, we analyzed fecal samples from a rescued
individual under captive conditions.
RESULTS
0-70 m
0-60 m
40-126 m
45-320 m
40-175 m
50-220 m
50-250 m
80-500 m
100-500 m
150-520 m
200-500 m
270-645 m
300-800 m
400-800 m
2
14
50
6
13
6
1
52
0
4
7
21
32
1
209
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
*Menezes et al. 2006. MEPS,324:241-260
• The presence of plastic was registered in 20% of the fecal samples examined
(Fig. 4).
• Plastic items recovered from the stomachs and feces
included fragments, styrofoam and plastic sheets.
Fig. 4. Plastic fragments from turtle feces.
CONCLUSION
Results from past and current monitoring on plastics ingestion by Azorean marine
fauna confirmed that plastic pollution acts as an additional stressor in the region.
• Similarly to what has been reported for Cory’s shearwater in the Canaries
(Rodriguez et al. 2012), in the Azores, parents transfer plastic debris to fledglings.
• So far, no plastic debris has been found in Azorean fish, however, a large number
of deep-sea fish regurgitate their stomach contents when brought to the surface.
SEABIRDS
• Of the 421 Cory´s Shearwater fledglings sampled throughout the study period, 93%
had plastic items in their stomachs (proventriculus and gizzard).
• The average number of plastic items per fledgling showed inter-annual variations,
ranging from 4 (±0.3, SE) in 2015 to 16 (±1.5, SE) in 2008.
• The average mass of plastic items per fledgling showed inter-annual variations, ranging
from 18 mg (±2.3, SE) in 2015 to 35 mg (±11, SE) for 96-2004 (Fig. 2).
(a)
39-46
40-46
25-66
40-66
24-29
71-80
53-53
29-61
90-130
142-159
51-79
36-62
24-45
127-127
• 30% of the turtles examined had debris in their stomachs.
Plastic ingestion was monitored in the stomach of 14 fish species (n=209) of
contrasting ecology, ranging from deep benthic to pelagic species.
SEA TURTLES: Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Pelagic
Pelagic
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
Demersal
• Ingestion of plastic by loggerhead turtles emerges as being common in Azorean
waters but more intense monitoring is required.
Our current results and future efforts will be key for establishing
appropriate indicator species to monitor the ingestion and abundance
of plastic in Azorean waters, and to contribute to the implementation
of future management actions needed to tackle the problem.
(b)
REFERENCES
Van Franeker, J.A. (2004). Save the North Sea Fulmar-Litter-EcoQO Manual. Part 1: Collection and dissection procedures. Alterra Report 672.
Alterra, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Available at http://edepot.wur.nl/40451
Frick, M.G., Williams, K.L., Bolten, A.B., Bjorndal, K.A. and Martins, H.R. (2009). Foraging ecology of oceanic-stage loggerhead turtles Caretta
caretta. Open access, Endangered Species Research.
3cm
3cm
Rodríguez, A., Rodríguez, B. and Carrasco, M.N. (2012). High prevalence of parental delivery of plastic debris in Cory´s shearwaters (Calonectris
diomedea). Marine Pollution Bulletin 64, 2219-2223.
(n=8)
(n=35)
(n=33)
(n=37)
(n=55)
(n=34)
(n=24)
(n=33)
(n=12)
(n=149)
(n=8)
(n=35)
(n=33)
(n=37)
(n=55)
(n=34)
(n=24) (n=33)
(n=12)
(n=149)
Fig. 2. Average mass of (a) total plastic and (b) industrial and user plastic mass per fledglings (±SE) in the Azores.
This study was partly funded by the Gallifrey Foundation, IUCN and the Direcção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar (DRAM), Secretaria Regional do Mar,
Ciência e Tecnologia, Governo dos Açores.
The seabirds were collected through the SOS cagarro campaign coordinated by DRAM and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Parque
Natural das Ilhas, Açores and the public enterprise Lotaçor, E.P. for their help in collecting and preserving all the fledglings analysed in this study. Turtles
were collected through the Rede de Arrojamento de Cetáceos dos Açores (RACA, DRAM) and we would like to thank our colleagues at Flying Sharks for
maintaining the turtle in their facilities. We would like to extend our thanks to Dália Reis and Angela Canha (Portuguese fisheries data collection
framework) for providing the stomach samples of the commercial fish. We finally wish to express our gratitude for the comments made by João Sousa
on earlier version of this poster.
2016
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS