Naslov
Quantifying impacts of plastic debris on marine wildlife identifies ecological breakpoints

Autori
Marn, Nina ; Jusup, Marko ; Kooijman, Sebastiaan A. L. M. ; Klanjscek, Tin

Izvornik
Ecology letters (1461-023X) 23 (2020), 10; 1479-1487

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Physiological energetics ; Conservation ; Sea turtles ; Stressors ; Debris ingestion

Sažetak
Quantifying sublethal effects of plastics ingestion on marine wildlife is difficult, but key to understanding the ontogeny and population dynamics of affected species. We developed a method that overcomes the difficulties by modelling individual ontogeny under reduced energy intake and expenditure caused by debris ingestion. The predicted ontogeny is combined with a population dynamics model to identify ecological breakpoints: cessation of reproduction or negative population growth. Exemplifying this approach on loggerhead turtles, we find that between 3% and 25% of plastics in digestive contents causes a 2.5–20% reduction in perceived food abundance and total available energy, resulting in a 10–15% lower condition index and 10% to 88% lower total seasonal reproductive output compared to unaffected turtles. The reported plastics ingestion is insufficient to impede sexual maturation, but population declines are possible. The method is readily applicable to other species impacted by debris ingestion.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA