title: Large amounts of marine debris found in sperm whales stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016.
abstract: 30 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the coasts of the North Sea between January and February 2016. The gastro-intestinal tracts of 22 of the carcasses were investigated. Marine debris including netting, ropes, foils, packaging material and a part of a car were found in nine of the 22 individuals. Here we provide details about the findings and consequences for the animals. While none of the items was responsible for the death of the animal, the findings demonstrate the high level of exposure to marine debris and associated risks for large predators, such as the sperm whale.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: IMARES Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisa L Bravo
authors.initials: ELB
authors.lastname: Rebolledo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deaville
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, PO Box 80158, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröne
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, PO Box 80158, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lonneke L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: IJsseldijk
authors.affiliation: IMARES Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 57, 1780 AB Den Helder, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mardik F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Leopold
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siebert
authors.affiliation: Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462, University of La Rochelle/CNRS, 5 allées de l'océan, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wohlsein
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany. Electronic address: helena.herr@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008297:Male; D009659:North Sea; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D050661:Sperm Whale / Q000378:metabolism*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Anthropogenic impact; Fishing related debris; Marine debris ingestion; Pathological findings; Physeter macrocephalus; Plastics