Plastic pollution poses a detrimental risk to seabirds, which can impact entire bird populations. Exposure to toxins like heavy metals can increase bird mortality rates, reproductive abnormalities, organ damage and immune system suppression. To reverse these effects, we need to address the root causes of plastic pollution and protect seabird habitats.
A better understanding of the sources and impact of plastic pollution will help us promote sustainable practices, develop mitigation strategies and improve local waste management infrastructures.
Sources and Types of Marine Plastic Pollution
Around 51% of birds in a 2022 analysis had high amounts of plastics in their digestive tract. Marine plastic pollution often comes from bottles, microplastics, plastic pellets and plastic fragments from degraded plastics. There are three main ways that these plastics end up in the ocean:
- Littering: Throwing plastic out of the car window onto the street doesn't guarantee it'll stay there. It can get blown away into rivers, streams and drains that lead to the ocean.
- Throwing recyclables in the trash: Many plastic products are recyclable, but that doesn't stop some people from throwing them in the trash. Trash gets taken to a landfill, and during this process, it could blow away because it is so light.
- Putting items down the drain: When we flush items like wet wipes and cotton swabs down the toilet, the microfibers become too small to be filtered out. They often end up in the ocean and are ingested by marine species.
Other factors that can contribute to how plastic accumulates in the ocean include:
- Wastewater discharge methods.
- Ocean current circulation patterns.
- Precipitation and wind.
Single-use plastics, plastic packaging, plastic particles in stormwater runoff from industrial sites, and raw plastic pellets or nurdles can all end up in the water.
Ecological Effects of Plastic Pollution
Seabirds can easily mistake floating plastic debris like microplastics or microfibers for food, as they resemble natural prey. If waste management is not handled more efficiently soon, by 2050, 99% of seabird species may ingest plastic.
When seabirds ingest plastic-containing toxins, those chemicals leach into their tissues, negatively impacting their immune systems, hormone balance, reproductive health and overall physiological functions. Plastics can also damage the digestive tract, cause internal blockages, and cause perforations, which may lead to malnutrition and often starvation. Eating plastics can also give the bird a false sense of fullness, reducing its appetite for nutritious food.
Additionally, seabirds consume crustaceans and fish that may have also ingested pollutants. As the chemicals build up in the fish's body, they can also impact higher-food chain animals like birds through a process called biomagnification. Even this secondary exposure can create long-term health risks and lead to population decline.
Plastic pollution in coastal areas and on beaches also degrades seabird nesting habitats. The birds may use plastic debris in their nests, and exposing their offspring to this toxicity can affect breeding success, chick survival rates and egg vitality.
Entanglement and Physical Harm
Fishing nets, plastic rings and lines can entangle seabirds, restricting their movement. Fighting these restraints can lead to injuries that impair the birds' flying and foraging abilities. It can also lead to strangulation and drowning, which further impacts seabird populations, especially vulnerable species like albatrosses and penguins.
Other species that are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution are:
- Petrels: Long-winged seabirds can get entangled in debris due to their wide-ranging foraging behaviors and interactions with fishing activities.
- Diving seabirds: Cormorants and gannets dive for prey and often become entangled near coastal areas and feeding grounds.
Bird injuries decrease breeding success while boosting species mortality rates. Seabirds are crucial to marine ecosystems for pest control and nutrient cycling. If their populations decline or their behaviors change dramatically due to injury, the ecosystem gets disrupted and becomes imbalanced.
Distribution Patterns of Plastic Pollution in Marine Environments
Plastic pollution hot spots in marine environments show some distinct patterns due to coastal proximity, population density, maritime activities and ocean currents. Understanding these patterns helps local and global cleanup efforts lessen pollution's impact on marine ecosystems. These patterns can include:
- Ocean gyres: The North Pacific Gyre and South Atlantic Gyre accumulate large amounts of plastic debris because of circular currents that trap floating litter.
- Estuaries and bays: Semi-enclosed areas like lagoons, bays and estuaries have lower water circulation, which traps sediments and leads to high plastic pollution levels.
- River outflows: Rivers push a lot of waste into oceans, which accumulates and disperses plastic around coastal zones.
- Shipping ports and routes: Busy maritime transport routes, shipping lanes and ports are subject to cargo spills, fishing gear losses and other pollution-causing shipping-related activities.
- Coastal areas: Most plastic pollution accumulates around densely populated coastal regions and industrial zones, which is where the debris enters marine ecosystems.
Conservation and Mitigation Strategies
Effective mitigation strategies require collaborative efforts at local, regional and even global scales. While better waste management practices can drastically reduce plastic in ocean areas, there are many more ways we can all help restore the seabird population and boost their species' survival rate. Some of these efforts can include:
- Fishing gear innovation: Biodegradable and eco-friendly fishing gear, along with incentivizing gear retrieval and recycling programs, will encourage more sustainable fishing practices while clearing up the ocean and marine ecosystems.
- Reducing plastic inputs: Participating in marine debris cleanup initiatives, reducing plastic consumption, promoting recycling and circular economy models, and creating better waste management practices can help reduce plastic pollution.
- Public awareness: Collaboration with businesses, conservation organizations and governments can develop sustainable solutions to plastic pollution. Initiatives can include setting up marine protected areas, supporting habitat restoration and creating more international cooperation to preserve marine biodiversity.
- Community efforts: Simple ways for everyone to help include coordinating community beach cleanups, making lifestyle changes by limiting plastic consumption and disposal, and prioritizing community education to inspire better waste management.
- Education campaigns: Educating the public about the harmful impacts of plastic pollution while advocating for better conservation measures can help turn things around.
Keep Your Window to the Wild Open With FeatherSnap
Plastic pollution has a devastating impact on seabirds. It affects their health, survival and overall well-being. Seabirds are vital to marine ecosystems, and by addressing the root causes of plastic pollution, we can protect critical seabird habitats. Mitigating the impact of plastic pollution can ensure these birds continue contributing to marine ecosystems.
You can keep an eye on the seabirds in your coastal area with FeatherSnap Scout, a Wi-Fi-enabled and solar-powered smart bird feeder. With a high-quality camera, live view feature and universal mount, you can keep track of feathered friends and update your birding journal as you help to combat pollution affecting seabirds. Order your smart bird feeder and start compiling your LifeBook with photos and videos from your own backyard today.
