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Resource ID
10794
Access
Open
Full Title
Retrospective study of foreign body-associated pathology in stranded cetaceans, Canary Islands (2000-2015) Environmental Pollution 243, pp.519-527, 2018
Author
R. Puig-Lozano, Y. Bernaldo de Quiro , J. Díaz-Delgado , N. García-Alvarez , E. Sierra , J. De la Fuente , S. Sacchini , CM. Suarez-Santana , D. Zucca , N. Camara , P. Saavedra , J. Almunia c , M.A. Rivero , A. Fernandez and M. Arbelo
Abstract
Marine pollution, overrepresented by plastic, is a growing concern worldwide. However, there is little
knowledge on occurrence and detrimental impacts of marine debris in cetaceans. To partially fill in this
gap of knowledge, we aimed to investigate the occurrence and pathologies associated with foreign
bodies (FBs) in a large cohort of cetaceans (n ¼ 465) stranded in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands
shelter the greatest cetacean biodiversity in Europe, with up to 30 different species, of which nine are
regularly present year around. We found at least one ingested FB in 36 out of 465 (7.74%) studied cetaceans, involving 15 different species, including eight out of the nine (80%) cetacean species present
year-round in the Canary Islands. Risso's dolphin was the species most affected, followed by sperm
whale, beaked whale and mysticetes. Plastic FB were the most common item found (80.56%). FB was
directly associated with death in 13/36 (36.11%) animals. Poor body condition and deep diving behavior
were found to be risk factors for FB ingestion, whereas the adult age was a protective factor. To the
authors knowledge this is the first study that use statistical analysis to investigate risk and protective
factors for FB ingestion. This study also provides insights of the potential impact caused by ingested FBs
on the animal's health and mortality. This knowledge is critical to better understand and assess the
impact of FB in cetaceans setting the scientific basis for prospective impact monitoring and future
conservation policies.