Plastic pollution and ocean giants: Investigating the extent and impacts of plastic ingestion by marine megafauna (ref 4597)

塑料污染和海洋巨兽：调查海洋巨型动物摄入塑料的程度和影响（参考文献 4597）

• 批准号: 2859489
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2859489
• 关键词: Plastic; pollution; ocean; giants; Investigating

The widespread and pervasive nature of plastic pollution has resulted in a growing body of evidence documenting the detrimental effects of anthropogenic waste on marine organisms. Over the last two decades, the number of marine species known to be impacted by debris, the majority of which is plastic, has more than trebled. Of particular concern are the marine megafauna, namely marine mammals (e.g. cetaceans and pinnipeds), elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), and marine turtles. These large marine vertebrates play key roles in the functioning and maintenance of marine habitats and are often considered indicators of marine ecosystem health. Many are also of conservation concern due to the plethora of anthropogenic pressures exerted on them. Plastic ingestion by marine megafauna can lead to a range of lethal and sub-lethal impacts, including intestinal blockage and internal injury, dietary dilution, malnutrition, exposure to chemical contaminants and increased vulnerability to disease. Our understanding of the fate of very small plastic particles, such as microplastics and nanoplastics, within mammalian gastrointestinal tracts, and the potential health implications, is extremely limited.Project Aims and methodsIn this PhD, the student will build on previous research undertaken by the supervisory team from the University of Exeter, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme at the Institute of Zoology (IoZ)/Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to understand the extent and potential impacts of plastic ingestion by a range of marine megafauna species, including whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, and sharks, found in UK waters.There is scope for the student to develop the specific objectives of the project but suggested aims include:Work alongside strandings scientists and veterinary pathologists to develop a method of sampling large marine animals collected by the UK stranding networks for evidence of plastic consumptionCharacterise any plastic debris (including microplastics) within the gastrointestinal tracts of the stranded animals, with a view to identifying potential sources and informing policyUsing data from strandings records and published research, investigate the differences in exposure to plastic pollution among species, life-stages, and feeding strategies/dietExamine spatial patterns to assess species vulnerability by exploring the overlap between species distributions and habitat use with hotspots of plastic pollutionWork with the supervisory team and histopathologists at IoZ to co-develop methods for examining digestive tract samples for the presence and fate of nanoplasticsInvestigate the link between plastic ingestion and exposure to chemicals, such as phthalatesConsider the adverse health impacts of plastic ingestion for individual animals as well as the potential population-level effects.

塑料污染的广泛和普遍性质导致了越来越多的证据，证明了人为废物对海洋生物的有害影响。在过去的二十年中，已知受碎片影响的海洋物种的数量（其中大多数是塑料）的数量远不止于此。特别关注的是海洋巨型巨型哺乳动物，即海洋哺乳动物（例如鲸类和pin脚），弹性弹药（鲨鱼和射线）和海龟。这些大型海洋脊椎动物在海洋栖息地的功能和维护中起着关键作用，通常被认为是海洋生态系统健康的指标。由于施加了过多的人为压力，许多人也关注了保护的问题。海洋巨型群岛摄入塑料会导致一系列致命的和亚特的影响，包括肠道阻塞和内部损伤，饮食稀释，营养不良，暴露于化学污染物以及增加对疾病的脆弱性。我们对哺乳动物胃肠道内部非常小的塑料颗粒（例如微塑料和纳米塑料）的命运的理解非常有限，潜在的健康是有限的。该博士学位和方法在该博士学位上，学生将在埃克塞特大学（Plysoceal of exeter of exeter of exeter of exeter of exeter of exetrions of exetrional of exetrions of exetrions of exetrions of exetrions of exetrions the exet a ply exet at the Plysacean Marine Marine实验室研究中的研究基础上（IOZ）/伦敦动物学学会（ZSL）了解一系列海洋巨型物种摄入塑料的程度和潜在影响，包括鲸鱼，海豚，海豚，海豹，海龟，海龟和鲨鱼，在英国水域中发现。在英国收集的大型海洋动物中取样，以证明塑料消耗的证据使滞留动物的胃肠道中的任何塑料碎片（包括微塑料）（包括微塑料）在遗体的胃肠道中，以确定潜在的来源，并确定潜在的来源并告知危险数据的政策数据，并在危险中进行了研究，并评估了在造成策略中的差异，并研究了策略，并提出了策略，并提出了策略，并提出了策略，并提出了策略，并提出了策略，并提出了策略的差异通过探索物种分布与栖息地之间的重叠与塑料污染的热点之间的重叠，与监督团队和组织病理学家在IOZ处的塑料污染作品的热点，以检查纳米塑料的存在和命运，以检查消化道样品的存在和命运，以使塑料的塑料与塑料的影响及其范围，例如，对塑料的影响及其不利的化学物质，从而使塑料的影响及其疾病，从而使塑料疾病及其侵害，从而使塑料造成的疾病不适用于侵害剂量的疾病。人口级的影响。