An investigation conducted by scholars from the University of La Laguna (ULL) has exposed, for the first time, the existence of microplastics in the dwelling places of the Canary Islands’ native seagull. Specifically, it concerns the safeguarded subspecies Larus Michaellis, out of which 48 shelters have been scrutinised, and at least 39 were found to contain some form of this polluting residue.
The study was introduced on Wednesday at the Royal Economic Society of Tenerife, with Dr. Cintia Hernández Sánchez presenting under the theme Impact of Climate Change and Resource Contamination and Dr. Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios Martinez covered Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity in the African Atlantic Isles.
This unique study, due to the innovative analysis method employed, concentrated on five distinct locations across two Biosphere Reserve islands: Montaña Clara, Risco de Famara, Timanfaya National Park, Los Hervideros, and Lobos. “It was a challenging process due to the remote nature of these areas, making access restricted. We meticulously examined the shelters of this species to determine the exact type of waste remnants,” shared Hernández.
This form of man-made debris is predominantly found in food products, wipes, or textile fragments. “These are spots near observatories, for instance, and it is believed that seagulls seek out these materials in these locations to build their homes,” highlighted Hernández. She also noted as a surprising element that most of the waste did not immediately appear to be plastic.
Dr. Hernández, a specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Director of the Sustainability Secretariat at ULL, and a member of the Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, reflected during her discussion on the broad repercussions of climate change and the necessity to swiftly address this issue. “The excessive utilization of non-renewable resources is the primary driver of climate change, and it falls upon humanity to promptly establish management and monitoring measures,” she emphasised.
The expert encouraged scholars to ponder the long-term evolution of climate change impacts and the challenges it poses for the scientific fraternity in predicting potential future scenarios. She stressed the importance of a comprehensive assessment considering factors like soil quality and water resources. “We are particularly concerned about aspects such as microbiological contamination as extreme flooding events are forecasted to rise in the upcoming years,” she elaborated.
The medic informed the audience about the initiation of the Minplastics 1 initiative, scheduled for implementation in Senegal, aimed at establishing a plastic sorting and processing sector in Saint Louis.
On the other hand, José María Fernández-Palacios Martínez, an ecology expert, discussed ‘Climate Change and Biodiversity in the African Atlantic Isles’, opening his discourse with an examination of the causes of climate change, focusing on the heightened CO2 concentrations and their implications. “Projections suggest that by the century’s end, there might be a rise of up to ten degrees in the average high-altitude temperature,” stated the specialist.
In this context, as elucidated by the expert, the Canary Islands are expected to undergo temperature shifts in the future, gradually aligning with those of Cape Verde, impacting the island’s ecosystem.
Fernández-Palacios highlighted the significant challenge posed by the surge in sea levels attributed to temperature increments, leading to territorial submergence. “Decisions must be made within the next 60 years to avert the ensuing effects. Certain nations are already in talks to acquire higher ground to relocate their populace,” he shared.
Among the outlined consequences, the researcher discussed the disruption of the natural habitat due to climate change, culminating in species extinction or the displacement of carriers of diseases, like mosquitoes.
As outlined by Fernández-Palacios, the increase in wildfires signifies a modification in their timing pattern. “They ignite earlier, persist longer, and besides the devastation they cause in the mountains, they serve as a significant source of CO2 emissions,” he emphasised.
