Presence of plastic fragments in the digestive tracts of seven owl species in Southern Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26605/medvet-v19n4-7615Keywords:
terrestrial birds, plastic ingestion, environmental impactAbstract
The ingestion of plastic by birds is a growing threat to wildlife, especially in urban and rural environments near urban centers. While the effects of plastic on seabirds are widely studied, there are still gaps in knowledge about the impacts on terrestrial birds, including raptors. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the presence of plastic in the digestive tract of owls of the species: Athene cunicularia, Asio clamator, Megascops choliba, Tyto furcata, Strix virgata, Asio stygius, and Bubo virginianus. A total of 64 samples from individuals found dead on highways and in urban areas of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, were analyzed. Plastic fragments were detected in all seven species studied, with a predominance of plastic fibers. Athene cunicularia (burrowing owl) was the species with the highest number of occurrences (33.33%), followed by Megascops choliba (tropical screech owl) (25.92%). The results indicate that plastic contamination is already significantly affecting nocturnal birds of prey in the region, highlighting the need for further ecotoxicological studies and actions to mitigate plastic pollution.Downloads
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