title: Microplastic and macroplastic ingestion by a deep diving, oceanic cetacean: the True's beaked whale Mesoplodon mirus.
abstract: When mammals strand, they present a unique opportunity to obtain insights into their ecology. In May 2013, three True's beaked whales (two adult females and a female calf) stranded on the north and west coasts of Ireland and the contents of their stomachs and intestines were analysed for anthropogenic debris. A method for identifying microplastics ingested by larger marine organisms was developed. Microplastics were identified throughout the digestive tract of the single whale that was examined for the presence of microplastics. The two adult females had macroplastic items in their stomachs. Food remains recovered from the adult whales consisted of mesopelagic fish (Benthosema glaciale, Nansenia spp., Chauliodius sloani) and cephalopods, although trophic transfer has been discussed, it was not possible to ascertain whether prey were the source of microplastics. This is the first study to directly identify microplastics <5 mm in a cetacean species.
authors: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: amy.lusher@research.gmit.ie.
authors: Amy L
authors: AL
authors: Lusher
authors: University College Cork, Cooperage Building, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Gema
authors: G
authors: Hernandez-Milian
authors: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland.
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: O'Brien
authors: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Berrow
authors: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: O'Connor
authors: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Rick
authors: R
authors: Officer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004242:Diving; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D007494:Ireland; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014907:Whales
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Atlantic ocean; Marine pollution; Microplastics; Plastic debris; True's beaked whale