SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 11 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A recent investigation conducted by the Applied Analytical Chemistry research group (AChem) at the University of La Laguna, in partnership with the Ornithology and Natural History Group of the Canary Islands, has uncovered the occurrence of anthropogenic materials—stemming from human activities—within the nests of the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis atlantis) across two biosphere reserves in the Canary Islands: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
This research, published in the esteemed journal ‘Science of the Total Environment’, represents the first of its kind on these islands. It examined 48 deserted nests situated in areas deemed unspoilt, including Montaña Clara, Risco de Famara, Timanfaya National Park, and Lobos Island.
The findings indicated that 39 of these nests contained waste originating from humans, as reported by the ULL in a statement.
Those located in Timanfaya National Park exhibited the highest level of contamination, whereas those in Risco de Famara presented the least.
Plastic emerged as the predominant material found (34.7%), succeeded by metal (33.6%), glass (19.6%), paper (6.9%), and other substances.
Among the various uses of the waste, the most significant were food packaging (47.8%) and personal hygiene items (21.7%), such as wet wipes and toilet paper.
To identify the plastic materials, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed.
This method enabled a detailed analysis of the composition of the plastics found, showing that polyester, polyethylene, and nylon were the most frequently identified polymers in the nests.
Thanks to this technique, it became possible to accurately differentiate materials such as toilet paper (cellulose) from wet wipes (plastic), thereby preventing an underestimation of plastic polymer presence.
These findings underscore the urgent need for actions aimed at mitigating plastic pollution in the environment.
Seabirds, including the yellow-legged gull, may become ensnared in anthropogenic waste, particularly plastic debris, as numerous scientific studies have illustrated.
Furthermore, the presence of plastics in nests can adversely influence the reproduction of these avian species.
