Synthetic debris ingestion by carnivorous mammals in aquatic ecosystems: insights from the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Europe

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F28064933%3A_____%2F25%3AN0000001" target="_blank" >RIV/28064933:_____/25:N0000001 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125020705" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125020705</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122818" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.envres.2025.122818</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Synthetic debris ingestion by carnivorous mammals in aquatic ecosystems: insights from the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Europe

Original language description

Plastic pollution has become a global issue affecting many species. However, scientific knowledge is much more extensive in marine ecosystems than in freshwater and terrestrial environments, which results in a relatively limited amount information related to plastic interactions with species. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a widely distributed mammal in European aquatic ecosystems and is currently classified as Near Threatened according to IUCN criteria. As a top predator in aquatic ecosystems, this species has been proposed as a sentinel for pollution, which poses a potential threat to this species. Here, we collected spraints from rivers of five European countries: Spain, Italy, Austria, Czechia, and the Netherlands. Synthetic debris was found in nearly 23 % of the samples analyzed, with fibres being the most common type detected. There was notable variation among countries, with Spain exhibiting the most diverse composition and highest quantities. We suggest that otters primarily ingest microplastics secondarily through their prey, with variations in microplastic presence influenced by local pollution sources and surrounding land use. Our study expands previous research on plastic debris in otter spraints by incorporating new populations and countries, but further research is needed to assess the broader impacts of synthetic debris on otters, particularly in underrepresented regions such as Asia and Africa.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10618 - Ecology

Project

—

Continuities

V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Environmental Research

ISSN

0013-9351

e-ISSN

1096-0953

Volume of the periodical

286

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

122818

UT code for WoS article

001476685800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85217436034