RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Tracking anthropogenic microparticles in wildlife of an alpine insular environment
A1 Díaz Peña, Francisco Javier
A1 Álvarez Méndez, Sergio J.
A1 G´´omez Escabia, Santiago
A1 González Sálamo, Javier
A1 Hernández Borges, Javier
K1 Microplastic
K1 High-mountain ecosystem
K1 Oryctolagus cuniculus
K1 Ovis gmelini
K1 Herbivory
K1 Dung analysis
AB Despite the isolation of remote natural regions, it has been discovered that they are experiencing the accumulationof anthropogenic microparticles (i.e., microplastics or natural or semisynthetic cellulosic particles). Teide National Park (Canary Islands, Spain) is a high-mountain protected area known for its rich biodiversity. This study aims to assess the occurrence of coloured anthropogenic particles in the faecal matter of wild mammals,specifically rabbits and mouflons, residing in the park. With this purpose, faeces were collected from 68 systematically distributed sampling points. A stereomicroscopy-guided grinding process allowed a chemical-free and quick visual inspection of 616 individual excreta, revealing that 96% were particle-free. However, 37 anthropogenic particles were found, which correspond to 0.79 ± 0.20 items per gram of dry faecal matter. The archetypical particle was a cellulosic blue microfibre of 2721 ± 407 μm, though poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) and polypropylene were also identified via micro Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Atmospheric deposition and touristic pressure may be the sources of the anthropogenic particles, as they were randomly found in 36% of the sampling points. These findings represent the first evidence of anthropogenic particle ingestion by wild rabbits and mouflons, signifying the introduction of microplastics into terrestrial food chains in a remote high-mountain environment.
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/35951
UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/35951
LA en
NO https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133291
DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
RD 06-ago-2024