Plastic ingestion by a generalist seabird on the coast of Uruguay

We analyzed plastic ingestion by Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) from 806 pellets collected between 2011 and 2013. Employing a Raman spectroscopy, we characterized those polymers used to produce the plastics ingested. Debris was recorded in 143 pellets (%FO = 17.7%, n = 202, 92.58 g). Plastic was found in 119 pellets (%FO = 83%) and non-plastic occurred in 56 pellets (%FO = 39%). The most important debris category was plastic film with 55.3% (n = 79). Plastic bags were observed in 19 pellets (%FO = 2.4%, weight = 25.02 g). Glass was the second most important component (%FO = 18.9%) followed by plastic fragments (%FO = 17.8%). Plastic debris represented the 653% of the debris fragments (n = 132, weight = 58.84 g), and was composed by polyethylene (52%), polypropylene (26%), polyamide (12%), polystyrene (6%), polyvinyl chloride (2%), and polyethylene terephthalate (2%). How plastics were obtained by gulls and the effects on individuals are discussed, as well as environmental considerations about plastic pollution on coastal environments. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.