The use of anthropogenic debris as nesting material by the greaterthornbird, an inland?wetland-associated bird of South America

BLETTLER, M.; GAUNA, L.; ANDRÉAULT, A.; ABRIAL, E.; LORENZÓN, R.; ESPINOLA, L.; WANTZEN, K.M.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2020 vol. 27 p. 41647 - 41655

0944-1344

lastic pollution has become a globally pressing environmental issue. In birds, plastic may cause harm by entangling or ingestionwhen used for nesting. The use of anthropogenic nesting material has so far been mostly studied in birds of terrestrial or marinehabitats, but there are yet very few reports for inland water?associated birds. The aim of this study is to better understand theextension and magnitude of the use of anthropogenic debris as nesting material by the greater thornbird (Phacellodomus ruber), abird species preferably nesting in river floodplain wetlands in South America. We found thatP. ruberuses disproportionally largequantities of plastic debris as nesting material (more than 90% of some nest chambers is plastic). This occurred even if amplevegetation (commonly used as soft material) was available. Most of the artificial nesting material was derived from wrappingmaterial released into the environment. We suggest that this species has the potential to indicate vulnerable areas to plasticpollution associated with urban waste mismanagement.