Seabirds as a Vector and Concentrators of Microplastics in Arctic ecosystems

Plastic debris is now recognized as a common contaminant affecting marine ecosystems. Since 2003 the Arctic seabird team has worked to assess which northern marine bird species are vulnerable to ingesting marine plastic pollution. To date a number of marine bird species have been shown to ingest plastics. Through these studies it have also been recently demonstrated that seabirds may shed ingested plastics in the form of microplastics in their guano. This suggests that seabirds may act as a vector for microplastic movement in the marine environment, and potentially to the terrestrial environment. To test if seabird excretion of microplastics is contributing to an accumulation of microplastics around seabird colonies, we will work with local hunters in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut to collect biotic and environmental samples from around two local seabird colonies known to have birds with high plastic ingestion rates. Air, water, blue mussels and sediment samples will be collected below the cliff-side colonies, and at increasing distances from the colony edges. Both Thick-billed Murres and Northern Fulmars will also be collected to assess current plastic accumulation levels. This work builds on past work in the region, and will further identify how microplastics are distributed and move through Arctic ecosystems.