Microplastics in long-eared owl (Asio otus) pellets: tracing contamination through prey

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dc.authorid0000-0002-8448-8976
dc.authorid0000-0001-8462-415X
dc.contributor.authorSeyfe, Merve
dc.contributor.authorÇırak, Tamer
dc.contributor.authorKankılıç, Tolga
dc.contributor.authorTavşanoğlu, Ülkü Nihan
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-18T06:49:55Z
dc.date.available2025-09-18T06:49:55Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.departmentTeknik Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu
dc.description.abstractMicroplastic pollution is a pervasive global environmental problem affecting ecosystems and pose a potential threat by entering the food chain. Due to their small size, microplastics are easily ingested by organisms at the base of the food web. Owls, as nocturnal predators, are vulnerable to microplastic bioaccumulation through their prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. This study investigates microplastic exposure in long-eared owls (Asio otus) by analyzing their pellet contents. A total of 292 pellets were collected from agricultural (n = 129), steppe (n = 116), and forest (n = 47) habitats in Ankara, Türkiye, over nine months. The most common microplastics found were fibers (78%), followed by films (14%) and fragments (8%), with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 4.4 mm. Microplastic distribution varied across habitats: 63% were found in steppe, 23% in agriculture, and 14% in forests particularly during non-breeding periods. The microplastics included polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and polypropylene (PP), among others. Harting’s vole was the primary rodent prey. A significant correlation was found between prey abundance and microplastic levels, suggesting trophic transfer through food webs. Microplastic concentrations were significantly higher in areas characterized by intensified anthropogenic activity. The study underscores the importance of protected areas with strict human activity regulations in reducing microplastic contamination, highlighting the need for targeted conservation and pollution management efforts to protect wildlife and ecosystems.
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10344-025-01962-z
dc.identifier.issn16124642
dc.identifier.issue4
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-105011862519
dc.identifier.scopusqualityQ2
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-025-01962-z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12451/14454
dc.identifier.volume71
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001537556800001
dc.identifier.wosqualityQ3
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.institutionauthorÇırak, Tamer
dc.institutionauthorKankılıç, Tolga
dc.institutionauthorid0000-0003-0431-9919
dc.institutionauthorid0000-0002-9058-5166
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer Verlag
dc.relation.ispartofEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subjectFood Chain
dc.subjectPolyethylene Terephthalate
dc.subjectPolypropylene
dc.subjectEthylene-Vinyl Acetate
dc.subjectFibers
dc.subjectMicrotus Hartingi
dc.titleMicroplastics in long-eared owl (Asio otus) pellets: tracing contamination through prey
dc.typeArticle

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