Alexei Volkov
Marine animals are swallowing plastic at alarming rates, with nearly 1,800 cases of turtles and marine mammals ingesting plastic off the American coast since 2009. This number is likely an underestimate, as not all affected animals are reported. Plastic ingestion can lead to internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation, and even death. While the exact reasons why sea animals swallow plastic are not fully understood, it is believed that they mistake plastic for food due to its appearance, smell, or the presence of algae or barnacles. Additionally, plastic debris can attach to or be ingested by prey, leading to indirect consumption by predators. As plastic production continues to increase, it is crucial to address this issue to protect marine life and ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why sea animals swallow plastic | Mistake plastic for food, plastic smells like food, plastic looks like food, plastic is in the animal's natural food, plastic is in the prey |
| Impact on animals | Internal injury, intestinal blockage, intestinal laceration, starvation, death, suffocation, drowning, choking, physical trauma, infection, poor nutrition, lethargy |
| Extent of the problem | 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic in the oceans, 18 billion pounds of plastic flow into the oceans every year, 1,800 animals from 40 species swallowed or got entangled in plastic between 2009 and 2018, 700 species confirmed to eat plastic, 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic, 69 species of marine mammals ingest debris, 80% of marine debris is plastic |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic smells like food to some sea animals
Marine animals swallow plastic due to various reasons, such as mistaking plastic for food or swallowing it while swimming or feeding. However, one of the main reasons why sea animals swallow plastic is that it smells like food to them.
As plastic accumulates in the oceans, hundreds of marine species consume alarming amounts of it. Seabirds, in particular, are attracted to the smell of plastic, mistaking it for their natural food sources. A study published in Science Advances on November 9, 2021, revealed that the reason behind this attraction is the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a sulfur compound emitted by algae as it breaks down naturally in the ocean. This stinky sulfur odor is similar to the scent of krill, a small crustacean that serves as the primary food source for many seabirds. The study, led by Matthew Savoca, found that floating plastic debris provides an ideal environment for algae to thrive, resulting in the emission of DMS.
The research specifically focused on albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters, which are among the most affected by plastic consumption. These birds, known as tube-nosed seabirds, rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate and find prey. Odor extraction tests confirmed that common varieties of plastic acquired a "DMS signature" within a month, making it indistinguishable from the scent of krill for these birds.
The findings suggest that the presence of DMS on plastic acts as an "olfactory trap", enticing seabirds to consume plastic instead of their intended prey. This discovery highlights the urgent need to address the growing plastic pollution in our oceans and explore ways to create plastics that are less attractive to marine life.
In addition to seabirds, other marine animals, such as sea turtles, may also be attracted to plastic due to its resemblance to their natural prey. Sea turtles often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, while smaller particles of broken-down plastic can be mistaken for their regular food items. While the exact reasons for plastic consumption vary among species, the role of scent in attracting sea animals to plastic cannot be overlooked.
While we now know that plastic can smell like food to some sea animals, there is still much to uncover regarding the long-term effects of plastic ingestion on marine wildlife.
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Plastic resembles prey
Marine animals are ingesting plastic at alarming rates, with nearly 1,800 cases of turtles and marine mammals swallowing plastic objects since 2009. This plastic ingestion often occurs when animals mistake plastic for prey.
Sea turtles, for example, commonly mistake plastic sheeting and plastic bags for their jellyfish prey. Similarly, albatross chicks have been found with stomachs full of plastic, unable to eat a full meal due to the ingested debris. In other cases, adult birds pass ingested plastic on to their offspring when feeding them.
Deep-diving toothed whales, such as sperm whales, pilot whales, and beaked whales, have also been found to mistake plastic waste for prey. These whales use echolocation to hunt for food, typically squid, in dark waters. Research has shown that plastic bags, ropes, and bottles reflect sonar in ways nearly identical to squid, leading whales to misinterpret the acoustic cues when echolocating and consume plastic instead of their primary prey.
The ingestion of plastic can have severe consequences for marine animals, including internal injuries, intestinal blockage, starvation, and even death. It is essential to address the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans to protect these animals and the marine ecosystem.
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Plastic is mistaken for food
Marine animals are swallowing plastic at alarming rates. Research indicates that plastic ingestion by wildlife was first observed in 1966, when researchers found plastic container lids and toys in dead Laysan albatross chicks. Since then, plastic ingestion has been observed in over 700 species, including seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals.
Plastic is often mistaken for food due to its resemblance to certain prey items and its attractive sensory characteristics. Sea turtles, for example, commonly mistake plastic sheeting and plastic bags for their jellyfish prey. The floating, colourful, and small nature of plastic pieces also makes them appealing to hungry animals. In addition, some animals, such as anchovies, may be attracted to the smell of plastic, mistaking it for food.
Deep-diving toothed whales, such as sperm whales, pilot whales, and beaked whales, have been found with stomachs full of plastic, suggesting that they may mistake plastic for prey when hunting in the deep, dark ocean. Plastic trash may create similar echoes to those of their prey, leading to this fatal confusion.
The ingestion of plastic can have devastating consequences for marine animals. It can cause internal injuries, intestinal blockages, and even death. Additionally, the presence of plastic in the stomach can create a false sense of fullness, leading to malnutrition and starvation.
The impact of plastic ingestion on marine life is a growing global crisis. With billions of pounds of plastic entering our oceans each year and the amount expected to triple by 2040, urgent action is needed to address this issue and protect marine ecosystems.
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Marine animals eat plastic due to hunger
Secondly, the presence of plastic in the ocean can reduce the availability of actual food sources for marine animals, leading to hunger and increased consumption of plastic. As plastic pollution increases, the amount of natural food available to marine animals decreases, driving them to ingest plastic out of hunger.
Thirdly, plastic pollution can contaminate the natural food sources of marine animals, causing them to consume plastic particles indirectly. This is especially relevant for active feeders that capture their prey, as they may ingest plastic debris that has been consumed by their prey.
Additionally, some marine animals may be attracted to plastic due to its smell or the presence of algae or barnacles, which can change the mass of the plastic and cause it to sink, making it more accessible to certain species.
The ingestion of plastic can have severe health consequences for marine animals, including internal injuries, intestinal blockages, and starvation. It is important to address plastic pollution and reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans to mitigate these harmful effects on marine life.
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Plastic ingestion leads to starvation
Marine animals swallow plastic for a variety of reasons. They often mistake plastic for food, or swallow it while swimming or feeding. Plastic can also get entangled in their bodies, making it difficult for them to escape and leading to starvation. The ingestion of plastic by wildlife was first observed in 1966 when researchers found plastic container lids and toys in dead Laysan albatross chicks.
Plastic ingestion can lead to starvation in marine animals in several ways. Firstly, when plastic remains in an animal's stomach, it may create a false sense of fullness, causing them to lose their urge to feed. This results in poor nutrition and eventual starvation. Sea turtles, for example, commonly mistake plastic sheeting and plastic bags for their jellyfish prey. The plastic gets stuck in their digestive system, making them feel full and leading to starvation.
Secondly, plastic ingestion can cause internal injuries and intestinal blockages, hindering the animal's ability to digest and absorb nutrients from their food. This can also lead to starvation over time. In some cases, just one piece of ingested plastic may be enough to cause death, as seen in the case of a pygmy sperm whale found dead with a single plastic bag in its stomach.
Additionally, some plastics may release chemicals that the animal ingests, leading to possible health impacts. While the immediate effects of plastic ingestion are concerning, the long-term consequences are even more alarming. Researchers are still working to understand the full scope of how ingested plastic affects marine wildlife, but it is clear that plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the health and survival of marine animals.
The impact of plastic ingestion on marine life is widespread, affecting a variety of species, including seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals. It is estimated that over 700 species have been confirmed to eat plastic, and this number is likely to increase as human trash continues to pollute the oceans. The amount and type of plastic ingested often depend on the animal's feeding behavior, with passive feeders unintentionally consuming microplastics and active feeders ingesting larger plastic debris.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several reasons why sea animals swallow plastic. Firstly, plastic may resemble an animal's natural food, either visually or by emitting a similar odour. For example, sea turtles often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, and seabirds are attracted to the smell of DMS-producing algae on plastic. Secondly, plastic may be accidentally ingested while an animal is feeding, or when consuming prey that already has plastic in its belly. Finally, some animals may actively choose to eat plastic over their regular food.
Ingesting plastic can lead to loss of nutrition, internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation, and even death. It can block or tear the digestive system, affect an animal's development, and cause infections.
Plastic enters the ocean through human activity. Plastic production has increased exponentially, with 448 million tons produced in 2015, and an estimated 15 million metric tons flowing into the ocean each year.
All seven species of sea turtles have been found to ingest plastic, as well as an estimated one-third of all seabird species. Other affected animals include fish, marine mammals, and invertebrates. Deep-diving toothed whales, such as sperm whales, pilot whales, and beaked whales, have been found dead with stomachs full of plastic.
Individuals can help reduce plastic ingestion in sea animals by reducing their own plastic waste and cleaning up their local environment. Additionally, supporting organizations that work towards reducing plastic pollution and advocating for policies that address this issue can make a significant impact.
