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

塑料污染的普遍和普遍性质导致越来越多的证据证明人为废物对海洋生物的有害影响。在过去的二十年里，已知受到垃圾影响的海洋物种的数量增加了两倍多，其中大部分是塑料垃圾。特别令人关注的是海洋大型动物，即海洋哺乳动物(如鲸目动物和鳍足动物)、棘鳍动物(鲨鱼和鱼类)和海龟。这些大型海洋脊椎动物在海洋栖息地的功能和维持方面发挥着关键作用，通常被认为是海洋生态系统健康的指标。由于施加在它们身上的过多的人为压力，许多物种也受到了保护关注。海洋巨型动物摄取塑料可导致一系列致命和亚致命影响，包括肠道堵塞和内伤、饮食稀释、营养不良、接触化学污染物和疾病易感性增加。我们对微小塑料颗粒，如微塑料和纳米塑料在哺乳动物胃肠道中的命运及其对健康的潜在影响的了解极其有限。项目目标和方法在这个博士学位中，学生将建立在埃克塞特大学、普利茅斯海洋实验室和伦敦动物学会(IoZ)/动物学会(ZSL)鲸目动物搁浅调查计划的监督小组之前进行的研究的基础上，了解一系列海洋大型动物物种摄取塑料的程度和潜在影响，包括鲸鱼、海豚、海豹、海龟和鲨鱼。在英国水域中发现。学生有机会制定该项目的具体目标，但建议的目标包括：与搁浅科学家和兽医病理学家合作，开发一种方法，对英国搁浅网络收集的大型海洋动物进行采样，以寻找塑料消耗的证据。对搁浅动物胃肠道中的任何塑料垃圾(包括微塑料)进行表征，以确定潜在的来源并向政策提供信息利用搁浅记录和已发表的研究数据，调查物种、生命阶段、和喂养策略/饮食通过探索物种分布和栖息地使用与塑料污染热点之间的重叠来检查物种脆弱性的空间模式与IoZ的监督小组和组织病理学家合作，共同开发检查消化道样本中纳米塑料的存在和命运的方法调查塑料摄取和接触化学品(如邻苯二甲酸盐)之间的联系考虑塑料摄取对个体动物的不利健康影响以及潜在的种群水平影响。

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.