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PENGUINS ARE EATING MICROPLASTIC IN THE ANTARCTICA

Microplastics are widespread in the marine environment but are still poorly understood in Polar regions, particularly in the Antarctica. Now, an international study reveals the presence of microplastics in three penguin species from Antarctica and warns about the state of our southern ecosystems.

Now, an international study reveals the presence of microplastics across Antarctica, in three penguin species, chinstrap, gentoo and adélie penguins, and warns about the state of our southern ecosystems.

Researchers analyzed scat samples from chinstrap, gentoo and adélie penguins at breeding colonies across the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea, over seven seasons. They found microplastics are widespread across years and colonies in Antarctic Peninsula. These particles are mostly polyethylene and polyester, but also, in cellulose fibres. Results shows a similar frequency of occurrence of particles across all colonies, suggesting there is no particular point source for microplastic pollution in the Scotia Sea,

Researchers highlight the need for further assessment of microplastics in this sensitive region of the planet, the potential effects on penguins and other organisms in the Antarctic marine food web.

Photo: Gentoo penguin at Byers Peninsula, one of the locations included in the study. Photo by Andrés Barbosa (MNCN-CSIC)

Reference: Fragão et al., 2021. Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers. Science of The Total Environment.

Photo description: Gentoo penguin colony, with nearly 40 penguins, some of them are nesting in a free-ice area near the water.

Artist: Thomas Benjamin Kennington.

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"I dream of Jeannie"

The artist and his wife Arnold Böcklin

Some of the faces of the male hostages who won't be freed in phase one

Charles André Reyne [1873-1917]

Hunting Dog

Our newest unofficial video series—deep-sea animals that are cuter than your puppy. 🐶

Amphipods are often mistaken for tiny shrimp. They resemble shrimp in some ways, but are laterally compressed and have no carapace. They’re important food for many fishes, invertebrates, seabirds, and even marine mammals. Amphipods are mostly detritivores (eating decomposing plant and animal parts, as well as feces) and scavengers. ⁠ ⁠ Amphipods in the genus Scina, like the cutie in this video clip, can emit their own light (bioluminescence). Researchers have recorded this light and found that it is among the shortest wavelengths of light produced by any known organism!⁠