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Leakage of plastics and other debris from landfills to a highly protected lake by wintering gulls
Martín-Vélez, V.; Cano-Povedano, J.; Cañuelo-Jurado, B.; López-Calderón, C.; Céspedes, V.; Ros, M.; Sánchez, M.I.; Shamoun-Baranes, J.; Müller, W.; Thaxter, C.B.; Camphuysen, C.J.; Cózar, A.; Green, A.J. (2024). Leakage of plastics and other debris from landfills to a highly protected lake by wintering gulls. Waste Management 177: 13-23. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2024.01.034
In: Waste Management. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD: Oxford. ISSN 0956-053X, meer
Peer reviewed article  
Beschikbaar in  Auteurs 
Trefwoord
    Larus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
Author keywords
    Biovectors; Waste; GPS; Larus fuscus; Landfills; Waterbirds
Auteurs  Top 
  • Martín-Vélez, V.
  • Cano-Povedano, J.
  • Cañuelo-Jurado, B.
  • López-Calderón, C.
  • Céspedes, V.
  • Ros, M.
  • Sánchez, M.I.
  • Shamoun-Baranes, J.
  • Müller, W., meer
  • Thaxter, C.B.
  • Camphuysen, C.J., meer
  • Cózar, A.
  • Green, A.J.
Abstract

    General context

    Gulls ingest plastic and other litter while foraging in open landfills, because organic matter is mixed with other debris. Therefore, gulls are potential biovectors of plastic pollution into natural habitats, especially when they concentrate in wetlands for roosting.

    Novelty

    We quantified, for the first time, the flow of plastic and other anthropogenic debris from open landfills to a natural lake via the movement of gulls. We focused on Fuente de Piedra, an inland closed-basin lake in Spain that is internationally important for biodiversity.

    Methodology

    In 2022, we sampled gull pellets regurgitated in the lake by lesser black-backed gulls Larus fuscus that feed on landfills, as well as their faeces, then characterized and quantified debris particles of ≥0.5 mm. By combining GPS and census data from 2010 to 2022, together with plastic quantification based on FTIR-ATR analysis, we estimated the average annual deposition of plastic and other debris by the wintering gull population into the lake.

    Main results

    86 % of pellets contained plastics, and 94 % contained other debris such as glass and textiles. Polyethylene (54 %), polypropylene (11.5 %) and polystyrene (11.5 %) were the main plastic polymers. An estimated annual mean of 400 kg of plastics were moved by gulls into the lake. Only 1 % of plastic mass was imported in faeces.

    Discussion

    Incorporating the biovectoring role of birds can provide a more holistic view of the plastic cycle and waste management. Biovectoring is predictable in sites worldwide where gulls and other waterbirds feed in landfills and roost in wetlands. We discuss bird deterrence and other ways of mitigating debris leakage into aquatic ecosystems.

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