Sebastian Mendez

Sebastian Mendez

Veterinaria, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile, Concepción, Biobío, Chile

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 September 2023 in Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SMSebastian Mendez
Sebastian Mendez
MTMariett Torres
Mariett Torres
KPKarla Pozo
Karla Pozo
GHGabriela Del Aguila Herrera
Gabriela Del Aguila Herrera
FHFabián Hernandez
Fabián Hernandez
DBDIANA MARITZA ECHEVERRY BERRIO
DIANA MARITZA ECHEVERRY BERRIO
Pollution from plastic waste thrown into the ocean affects all levels of the food chain. Marine species of birds are affected by plastic particles of different sizes, especially the mesoplastics (1 to 10 mm) found in their digestive tract, which mainly cause obstructions. In the case of microplastics (1.000 µm to 1 mm), their presence in the digestive tract of these species has been widely reported. We studied fecal samples of the Dominican gull (Larus dominicanus) (n = 14), Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) (n = 8), and Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) (n = 1) obtained from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of the Biobío region, Chile. Microfibers of various colors were present in the feces of Dominican gulls and Magellanic penguins, corresponding mainly in composition to polypropylene (PP) (83%) and rayon (77%). These results demonstrate that microplastic particles occur in the coastal environments of central Chile and suggest that they are probably circulating in the food chain.