INGESTION OF PLASTIC DEBRIS BY ESTUARINE DOLPHIN, Sotalia guianensis, OFF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Authors

  • Juliana P. Guimarães Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos
  • Renata L.G. Batista Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos
  • Daniela B. Mariani Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos
  • Jociery Einhardt Vergara-Parente Universidade Federal de Sergipe

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32360/acmar.v46i1.897

Keywords:

Sotalia guianensis, plastic debris, stranding, stomach contents, marine pollution.

Abstract

Debris in the marine environment is documented as one of the main threats to fish, birds and sea turtles. However,  there are few records of the interactions of cetaceans with debris. This paper reports the presence of a scrap of plastic screen  in the digestive tract of an estuarine dolphin,  Sotalia guianensis , found dead on the beach sand of Sergipe State, Brazil.  The animal showed marks of interaction with fishing and necropsy revealed an adequate nutritional state and a stomach  full of food contents, indicating that the animal was feeding just prior to death. It is believed that in this case death did not  occur due to the animal having ingested the piece of plastic screen yet, based on previous studies, it is likely that plastic  debris can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the feeding stimulus, thereby resulting in death. A reduction in  marine debris requires addressing the question of debris discarding, especially plastics, and educational campaigns aimed  at raising awareness regarding conservation for the maintenance and survival of marine species.

Author Biographies

Juliana P. Guimarães, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos

Núcleo dos Efeitos Antropogênicos nos Recursos Marinhos, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos-FMA.

Renata L.G. Batista, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos

Núcleo dos Efeitos Antropogênicos nos Recursos Marinhos, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos-FMA.

Daniela B. Mariani, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos

Núcleo dos Efeitos Antropogênicos nos Recursos Marinhos, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos-FMA.

Jociery Einhardt Vergara-Parente, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Núcleo dos Efeitos Antropogênicos nos Recursos Marinhos, Fundação Mamíferos Aquáticos-FMA. Grupo de Pesquisa em Geoecologia e Planejamento Territorial, GEOPLAN-CNPq/Universidade Federal de Sergipe.

Published

2013-06-01

Issue

Section

Artigos originais