Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce our recent publication in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin: Ortega-Borchardt, J.A., Ramirez-Alvarez, N., Rios Mendoza, L.M., Gallo-Reynoso, J.P., Barba-Acuna, I.D., Garcia-Hernandez, J., Egido-Villarreal, J., Kubenik, T. (2023) Detection of microplastic particles in scats from different colonies of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico: A preliminary study. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114433 Abstract: Microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm in size) are highly bioavailable to many taxa within the marine ecosystem, either ingested directly or indirectly through trophic transfer from polluted prey. The ingestion analysis of these MPs from top predators, such as pinnipeds in Mexico, is relatively unexplored. Forty-eight scats from California sea lions were collected on six rookeries along the Gulf of California. From these scat samples, 294 suspected MPs particles were classified and chemically analyzed; 34% were synthetic and semi-synthetic, and 66% were non-synthetic. Blue-colored polyethylene terephthalate fibers were the most common type of MP registered. During laboratory work, multiple contamination control measures were implemented. Although the ingestion pathway is still unknown, our results support the other authors that suggest the potential trophic transfer of MPs to top predators and incidental ingestion while foraging. The particles documented here provide important baseline information for future MP research in the Gulf of California. Elsevier is kindly giving free access to our article to anyone clicking on this link before January 27, 2023: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gDEB,asi2GiM All the best, M.C. Jose Angel Ortega Borchardt +52 (662) 137 6171 ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jose-Ortega-Borchardt> LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseangelortegaborchardt/>
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