Evidence of microplastic ingestion in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from the Canadian Arctic.

IF 3.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Marine environmental research Pub Date : 2026-10-12 DOI:10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108456

Haylee I Hatton, Brynne Radford, Steven H Ferguson, Magali Houde, Liisa M Jantunen, Matthew S Ross

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) play a crucial role in Arctic marine food webs, serving as predators of fish and invertebrates, and as prey for polar bears (Ursus maritimus). They are also a critical food source for Inuit subsistence. However, there is limited data on microplastic accumulation in Arctic pinnipeds, including ringed seals. To better understand the extent of ingestion and potential accumulation of microplastics in ringed seals from the Canadian Arctic, 30 ringed seal stomachs were collected in collaboration with Inuit Hunters from Arviat and Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada, in 2021. All suspected microplastics underwent analysis by Raman microspectroscopy to identify polymer type, and all identified microplastics were counted and categorized based on size, color and morphology. Microplastics were present in 23 out of 30 (77%) seal stomachs, with abundances ranging from 0 to 6 particles per seal (mean = 2.0 ± 1.6 pcs/seal). Fragments were the most prevalent morphology identified (55%), followed by fibers (42%) and films (3.3%). Most particles were unidentified anthropogenic particles and polyester fibers. Microplastic abundances were similar between sexes and between seals collected from the two locations, and no relationships were found between microplastic abundances and age or any morphometric measurements. This study provides new data confirming the presence and characteristics of microplastics ingested by ringed seals harvested in Arviat and Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada, and provides baseline information for future plastic pollution monitoring programs in the region.

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来自加拿大北极的环斑海豹（Pusa hispida）摄入微塑料的证据。

环斑海豹（Pusa hispida）在北极海洋食物网中扮演着至关重要的角色，它们是鱼类和无脊椎动物的捕食者，也是北极熊（Ursus maritimus）的猎物。它们也是因纽特人赖以生存的重要食物来源。然而，关于北极鳍足类动物（包括环斑海豹）微塑料积累的数据有限。为了更好地了解来自加拿大北极的环斑海豹摄入微塑料的程度和潜在积累，2021年，与来自加拿大努纳武特的阿尔维亚特和雷索雷特湾的因纽特猎人合作，收集了30只环斑海豹的胃。所有可疑的微塑料都进行了拉曼显微光谱分析，以确定聚合物类型，并根据大小、颜色和形态对所有鉴定的微塑料进行了计数和分类。30只海豹中有23只（77%）存在微塑料，每只海豹的丰度从0到6个颗粒不等（平均 = 2.0 ± 1.6个/只）。碎片是最常见的形态（55%），其次是纤维（42%）和薄膜（3.3%）。大部分颗粒为未识别的人为颗粒和聚酯纤维。微塑料丰度在性别之间和从两个地点收集的海豹之间相似，并且没有发现微塑料丰度与年龄或任何形态测量之间的关系。这项研究提供了新的数据，证实了在加拿大努纳武特的Arviat和Resolute湾捕获的环斑海豹摄入的微塑料的存在和特征，并为该地区未来的塑料污染监测项目提供了基线信息。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Marine environmental research 环境科学-毒理学

CiteScore

5.90

自引率

3.00%

发文量

217

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Marine Environmental Research publishes original research papers on chemical, physical, and biological interactions in the oceans and coastal waters. The journal serves as a forum for new information on biology, chemistry, and toxicology and syntheses that advance understanding of marine environmental processes. Submission of multidisciplinary studies is encouraged. Studies that utilize experimental approaches to clarify the roles of anthropogenic and natural causes of changes in marine ecosystems are especially welcome, as are those studies that represent new developments of a theoretical or conceptual aspect of marine science. All papers published in this journal are reviewed by qualified peers prior to acceptance and publication. Examples of topics considered to be appropriate for the journal include, but are not limited to, the following: – The extent, persistence, and consequences of change and the recovery from such change in natural marine systems – The biochemical, physiological, and ecological consequences of contaminants to marine organisms and ecosystems – The biogeochemistry of naturally occurring and anthropogenic substances – Models that describe and predict the above processes – Monitoring studies, to the extent that their results provide new information on functional processes – Methodological papers describing improved quantitative techniques for the marine sciences.