First assessment of plastic pollution in the gastrointestinal content of juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) stranded on the west south Atlantic coasts

TATIANA RECABARREN-VILLALÓN; ANA C. RONDA; LUCIANO LA SALA; CRISTINA SANHUEZA; LUCRECIA DÍAZ; LUCAS S. RODRIGUEZ PIRANI; A. LORENA PICONE; ROSANA M. ROMANO; PABLO PETRACCI; ANDRES H. ARIAS

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2023 vol. 188

0025-326X

This paper provides the first evidence of microplastic and other non-digestiblematerials ingested by American juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscusmagellanicus). 100% of stranded penguins from the southern Buenos Aires Province,Argentina, showed macro-, meso- and microplastic particles (MPs) in their gastrointestinal tract, ranging from 33 to 200 items/ind. 91% of them were MPs including98.5% of fibers. Most MPs were in the small range (35%; < 1mm), followed by 1-2 mm(33%) and 2-3 mm (19%). Black MPs dominated (30%), followed by transparent (26%),blue (14%), yellow (14%), and red (10%). Infrared and Raman spectroscopy identifiedpolyester (28%) followed by synthetic cellulosic fibers (22%) and polypropylene (18%).We also report the occurrence of ingested metallic-like particles. Urban wastewatereffluents and discarded fishing gear were pointed as the main plastic sourcesimpacting the foraging areas. This species is proposed as a promising plastic pollutionbioindicator for the Patagonia region.