Prevalence and Type of Plastic in Albatrosses and Petrels (Birds: Procellariiformes)

Recorte espacial da Costa Sudeste e Sul do Brasil, de 2015 a 2019

Abstract

Procellariiformes includes many threatened species and its diversity in Brazil implies responsibilities for conservation. Threats such as the ingestion of plastics negatively affect albatrosses and petrels globally. In this context, we carried out the quantification and classification of polymeric residues in Procellariiformes found in beaches of Florianópolis and captured incidentally by industrial fishing in other regions of southern Brazil. To identify the location of ingested items, digestive tracts of 44 specimens of nine species were analyzed, and these were separated into esophagus, proventricle and ventricle. Debris > 5 mm were measured and classified into plastic fragments, pellets, nylon and others. Macroplastic was found in 13 specimens of six individuals from families Diomedeidae and Procellariidae. Procellaria aequinoctialis presented higher frequencies of macroplastic (80%) of the analyzed specimens. Plastic fragments were the most frequent type of debris. The ventricle was the portion of the digestive tract with the largest amount of macroplastic. This study provides additional evidence that Procellariiformes are consuming plastics in the South Atlantic. The quantification, monitoring and standardization of analyzes are important to support and guide measures for the management and implementation of the Brazilian Solid Waste Policy, aiming at the conservation of marine environments and associated fauna.