Identification of microplastics in faeces of sea lions (Otaria flavescens), in La Poza port, Biobío Region, Chile

Authors

  • Carla Amanda Pérez Gómez Universidad San Sebastián, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Concepción, Chile
  • Mariett Torres Universidad San Sebastián, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Laboratorio de Microplásticos y COPs, Concepción, Chile
  • Karla Pozo Universidad San Sebastián, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Laboratorio de Microplásticos y COPs, Concepción, Chile
  • Diana Echeverry Berrío Universidad San Sebastián, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Concepción, Chile https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1704-5833

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15381/rivep.v35i1.25593

Keywords:

Pollution, Otariids, marine mammals, microparticles

Abstract

Microplastics are generated by the fragmentation of plastic that enters the oceans and is accidentally consumed by various species in the trophic chain. Otariids are considered bioindicators of the presence of microparticles in the environment; however, the level of impact in the coastal area of the Bio-bío region, Chile, is unknown. The aim of this work was to evaluate the presence of this polymer in faeces of sea lions (Otaria flavescenses), in the 'La Poza' sector, commune of Talcahuano, Bio-bío region. Stool samples were collected, freeze-dried, digested and subsequently filtered to identify microplastics. Microfibres of various colours were found, with a predominance of black. It is concluded that sea lions were indicators of the circulation of microplastics in their food chain in the sampling area.

 

 

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Published

2024-02-29

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Artículos Primarios

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Carla Amanda Pérez Gómez, Mariett Torres, Karla Pozo, Diana Echeverry Berrío

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

AUTHORS RETAIN THEIR RIGHTS:

a. Authors retain their trade mark rights and patent, and also on any process or procedure described in the article.

b. Authors retain their right to share, copy, distribute, perform and publicly communicate their article (eg, to place their article in an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in the Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú (RIVEP).

c. Authors retain theirs right to make a subsequent publication of their work, to use the article or any part thereof (eg a compilation of his papers, lecture notes, thesis, or a book), always indicating the source of publication (the originator of the work, journal, volume, number and date).

How to Cite

Pérez Gómez, C. A. ., Torres, M. ., Pozo, K. ., & Echeverry Berrío, D. . (2024). Identification of microplastics in faeces of sea lions (Otaria flavescens), in La Poza port, Biobío Region, Chile. Revista De Investigaciones Veterinarias Del Perú, 35(1), e25593. https://doi.org/10.15381/rivep.v35i1.25593