![]() ![]() Marine microplastics mainly exist in the form of fibrous materials (microfibers), small fragments, or thin films 25, and are presumed to be transferred to upper trophic levels through the food web 7, 8, 26. Marine microplastics originate from anthropogenic sources on land 22, 23, 24 or from macroplastics of the same origin that are broken down in the ocean 2, 15, 22. As technical advancements have allowed researchers to analyze even smaller particles, the number of studies on microplastics in marine ecosystems has increased 21. ![]() Not only are marine plastic debris widespread 2, 3, 4, 5, but marine microplastics (smaller than 5 mm) have been reported globally 6 and widely dispersed in marine ecosystems 7, 8, 9, 9, from invertebrates and fishes 10, 11, 12, 13, 13 to seabirds 14, 15, 16, 17, 17 and marine mammals 18, 19, 20. Plastic pollution is causing a serious disturbance in marine ecosystems worldwide 1. This finding confirms the presence of microplastics in an Antarctic ecosystem and suggests the need for stronger waste management in Antarctica and a standardized scheme of microplastic monitoring in this once-pristine ecosystem. Marine debris surveys near the breeding colony found various plastic (79.3%) to be the most frequent type of beached debris, suggesting that local sources of marine plastic waste could have contributed to microplastic contamination of penguin chicks being fed by parents that forage in nearby seas. However, the concentration of microplastics was much higher (9.1 ± 10.8 microplastics per individual within the size range 100–5000 μm) than the previously reported concentration in the penguin feces, and a greater number of smaller microplastics were found. The detected number of microplastics did not increase with the mass of penguin chicks, suggesting no permanent accumulation of microplastics. A total of 378 microplastics were identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, with 27.0 ± 25.3 microplastics per individual. ![]() ![]() In this study, the stomach and upper intestines of 14 dead gentoo penguin ( Pygoscelis papua) chicks were collected and screened for microplastics on King George Island, a gateway to Antarctic research and tourism. Microplastics (< 5 mm) have been found in marine ecosystems worldwide, even in Antarctic ecosystems. ![]()
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