title: Increased plastic litter cover affects the foraging activity of the sandy intertidal gastropod Nassarius pullus.
abstract: This study analyzed the foraging behavior of the gastropod Nassarius pullus on garbage-impacted sandy shores of Talim Bay, Batangas, Philippines. The effect of different levels of plastic garbage cover on foraging efficiency was investigated. Controlled in situ baiting experiments were conducted to quantify aspects of foraging behavior as affected by the levels of plastic litter cover in the foraging area. The results of the study indicated that the gastropod's efficiency in locating and in moving towards a food item generally decreased as the level of plastic cover increased. Prolonged food searching time and increased self-burial in sand were highly correlated with increased plastic cover. The accuracy of orientation towards the actual position of the bait decreased significantly when the amount of plastic cover increased to 50%. These results are consistent with the significant decreases in the abundance of the gastropod observed during periods of deposition of large amounts of plastic and other debris on the shore.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, College of Science, National Science Complex, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines. alexanderaloy@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alexander B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Aloy
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: Marie Antonette
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Juinio-Meñez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010679:Philippines; D010969:Plastics / Q000633:toxicity*; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants