Cited by 280Microplastics and Plastic PollutionMarine animal studies overviewTurtle Biology and Conservation

As main meal for sperm whales: plastics debris

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de Stephanis, Renaud, Giménez, Joan, Carpinelli, Eva, Gutierrez-Exposito, Carlos, Cañadas, Ana·2013·Marine Pollution Bulletin

Abstract

Marine debris has been found in marine animals since the early 20th century, but little is known about the impacts of the ingestion of debris in large marine mammals. In this study we describe a case of mortality of a sperm whale related to the ingestion of large amounts of marine debris in the Mediterranean Sea (4th published case worldwide to our knowledge), and discuss it within the context of the spatial distribution of the species and the presence of anthropogenic activities in the area that could be the source of the plastic debris found inside the sperm whale. The spatial distribution modelled for the species in the region shows that these animals can be seen in two distinct areas: near the waters of Almería, Granada and Murcia and in waters near the Strait of Gibraltar. The results shows how these animals feed in waters near an area completely flooded by the greenhouse industry, making them vulnerable to its waste products if adequate treatment of this industry's debris is not in place. Most types of these plastic materials have been found in the individual examined and cause of death was presumed to be gastric rupture following impaction with debris, which added to a previous problem of starvation. The problem of plastics arising from greenhouse agriculture should have a relevant section in the conservation plans and should be a recommendation from ACCOBAMS due to these plastics' and sperm whales' high mobility in the Mediterranean Sea.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.01.033

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Authors
de Stephanis, R., Giménez, J., Carpinelli, E., Gutierrez-Exposito, C., & Cañadas, A.
Affiliations
Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES)
Venue
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-04
Volume
69
Issue
1-2
Pages
206-214
ISSN
0025-326X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2066506308
Cited by
280
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6
FWCI
11.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Marine Pollution Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Marine animal studies overview
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Turtle Biology and Conservation
Keywords
sperm whale, plastic ingestion, marine litter, gastric rupture, whale mortality, Mediterranean Sea, spatial distribution modeling, anthropogenic debris, ACCOBAMS, cetacean conservation
MeSH terms
Animals, Diet, Environmental Monitoring, Gastrointestinal Contents, Male, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Water Pollution, Sperm Whale

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