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Alvaro Luna, Angel Fernández-González, David León-Muez, Ignacio G. Hermosell, Fernando Mateos-González
Časopis
Environmental Pollution 397: 127977
Rok vydání
Human activities have introduced a wide range of pollutants into natural environments, altering ecological
processes and threatening wildlife. In recent years, plastic pollution has gained increasing attention, as it affects
ecosystems worldwide. However, little attention has been paid to its presence in remote freshwater ecosystems,
especially concerning endangered species. In this study, we document the ingestion of anthropogenic debris
(hereafter AD) by the Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), a semi-aquatic, endangered mammal endemic to the
Iberian Peninsula. We analyzed 52 fecal samples collected across five river basins in Spain where the species‘
presence had been previously confirmed. In the laboratory, we searched for AD, isolating suspected particles and
identifying their composition using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). We confirmed the presence
of AD in 32.7% of samples (17/52), totaling 55 items across 10 material types identified by FTIR. Textile fibers
dominated the AD assemblage (>90%), with rayon and azlon as the most frequent materials, while true plastic
polymers were rare (<10%). Although sample sizes limited statistical power, the data demonstrate an exposure
to anthropogenic pollution in upland freshwater systems. The Iberian desman likely ingests AD through its diet,
mainly aquatic invertebrates known to interact with anthropogenic materials. Our findings provide the first
evidence of AD ingestion, including plastic debris, in G. pyrenaicus, and reveal that species living in highland,
seemingly pristine ecosystems face contamination risks. We call for attention to anthropogenic pollution in
freshwater systems and its effects on overlooked wildlife, including endangered freshwater-dependent mammals.
Further research should assess the ecological and physiological impacts of exposure in this and similar species
and monitor plastic loads and similar debris in upstream habitats.
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