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Polystyrene and Hawaiian Seabirds Hillary Young University of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Polystyrene and Hawaiian Seabirds Hillary Young University of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Polystyrene and Hawaiian Seabirds Hillary Young University of California Santa Barbara Hawaiian islands are a seabird hotspot Largest Tropical Seabird Rookery on the Planet Globally, seabirds have declined by 70% since 1950 Globally, seabirds
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Globally, seabirds have declined by 70% since 1950
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Globally, seabirds have declined by 70% since 1950
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Largest declines in long-ranging species including many Hawaiian species such as albatross
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Tropical seabirds face particular foraging challenges
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Polystyrene compounds these challenges.
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Frans Lanting, National Geographic Vericool Packaging
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Polystyrene resistant to biodegredation
- Easily persists 500 years in environment
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Thus we expect that by 2050 polytsyrene and other plastics will be found in 99% of seabirds
Wilcox et al., 2015
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Polystyrene quickly breaks down to small pieces
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Lee et al., 2013
Polystyrene quickly breaks down to small pieces
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These pieces accumulate in the smallest prey species
Lee et al., 2013
Flourescently labeled polystyrene microfragments Marine Copepods
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Polystyrene fragments then accumulate toxins (e.g. Hg & PCBs)
Graca et al., 2014
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Toxins bioccumulate
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Jaymi Heimboch J.L. Lavers et al., 2014
This can cause secondary poisoning in marine animals, including seabirds
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- Mortality
- Reduced Body Size
- Infertility
- Disrupted Neurological
Function
- Altered Sex Ratios
This can cause secondary poisoning in marine animals, including seabirds
Jaymi Heimboch J.L. Lavers et al., 2014
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Polystyrene also causes mechanical blockages, false feelings of ‘fullness’, and interrupted breathing
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98% of dead albatross chicks are found to have plastics in their stomachs
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Polystyrene seabird declines
J.L. Lavers et al., 2014
Ingested plastic
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Wide range of wildlife exposed
More than 180 marine species documented eating plastics, including many of Hawaii’s most iconic species
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Cultural as well as conservation significance
Seabirds have important roles in Hawaiian culture including traditional wayfinding roles for voyagers
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