New research by the University of Tasmania has examined the toxic affects of seabirds ingesting marine plastic pollution and population decline.
The study sampled breast feathers and stomach content of shearwater fledglings in eastern Australia.
The number of birds ingesting plastic has increased over the past four years, with more than 60% of fledglings exceeding international targets for plastic ingestion by seabirds.
Birds with a high level of ingested plastic showed reduced body condition and higher contaminant levels. This is the first study to provide quantitative data on the demographic impact of ingested plastic.
Read more at University of Tasmania