First evidence of microplastics and their characterization in yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis michahellis, Naumann, 1840) pellets collected from the Sfax salina, southeastern Tunisia

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 205; p. 116628
• Main Authors: Essoufi, Chayma, Santini, Saul, Sforzi, Laura, Martellini, Tania, Chelazzi, David, Ayari, Rihab, Chelazzi, Laura, Cincinelli, Alessandra, Hamdi, Nabil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: anthropogenic activities; Birds regurgitation; cellulose; ethylene-vinyl acetate; indicator species; Larus michahellis michahellis; marine pollution; micro-FTIR; Microplastics; North Africa; polyethylene; Saline site; Tunisia; Tunisia; Microplastics; North Africa; Tunisia; micro-FTIR; Saline site; Birds regurgitation
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116628

The aim of this work was to provide evidence on the presence of microplastics (MPs) in regurgitated Yellow-legged Gull pellets (n = 18) from Sfax salina (south-eastern Tunisia). This artificial area is subject to high anthropogenic pressure and hosts Yellow-legged Gulls, which are at the top of the trophic chain and can be used as sentinel species to monitor litter in the environment, including plastic pollution. The total number of MPs found in the samples was 309, 63.8 % fibres (4.95 ± 3.51 MPs/g) and 36.2 % fragments (2.87 ± 1.74 MPs/g). Micro-FTIR analysis evidenced that a large proportion of the fibres was attributed to artificial cellulose (40.7 %). Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyethylene (PE) were found in the fragments. [Display omitted] •Assessment of microplastic levels in Yellow-legged Gull regurgitation items.•Yellow-legged Gulls can be considered sentinels for microplastic contamination.•Microplastics were predominated by fibres (64 %).•Artificial cellulose was the most abundant polymer among the fibres.•Among the fragments, the most abundant polymer was ethylene-vinyl acetate.