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Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization

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Abstract

Plastic pollution in terrestrial and freshwater environments and its accumulation along food chains has been poorly studied in birds. The Barn owl (Tyto alba) is an opportunistic and nocturnal apex predator feeding mostly on small mammals. In this note, we reported evidence of microplastics (MPs) contamination in Barn owl pellets collected, for the first time, in two sites with different levels of anthropization (low: natural landscape mosaic vs. high extensive croplands). The following polymers have been recorded: polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), expanded polyester (EPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyester (PL), viscose, and starch-based biopolymer. We found significant higher MPs frequency in the most anthropized site. Our results suggest that pellet’ analysis may represent a cost-effective method for monitoring MP contamination along food chains in terrestrial ecosystems.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The owl’s pellet collection was carried out during the LIFE GREENCHANGE (“Green Infrastructure for increasing biodiversity in Agro Pontino and Maltese rural areas;” LIFE17 NAT/IT/000619) and was included in NBFC, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, PNRR, Missione 4 Componente 2, “Dalla ricerca all’impresa”, Investimento 1.4, Project CN00000033. We thank: the Caetani Foundation and the “Gelasio Caetani” farm for allowing us access to the pellets collection sites; Giovanni Mastrobuoni, Simonetta Dario and Giampaolo Matricaria for helping us in the fieldwork. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editor (Philippe Garrigues): their useful comments and suggestions have largely improved the first and the second draft of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DAFNE Department, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy

    Loris Pietrelli

  2. Sustainable Development Foundation, Via Garigliano 61a, 00198, Rome, Italia

    Giuseppe Dodaro

  3. Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Rome, Italy

    Ilaria Pelosi, Cristina Coccia & Massimiliano Scalici

  4. ENEA–SSPT, CR Casaccia Via Anguillarese, 301, Rome, Italy

    Patrizia Menegoni

  5. “Torre Flavia” LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana Di Roma, Servizio Aree protette – Parchi Regionali – Via Ribotta, 41 – 00144, Rome, Italy

    Corrado Battisti

  6. National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università Di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy

    Cristina Coccia & Massimiliano Scalici

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  1. Loris Pietrelli
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and pellet analysis were performed by GD, IP, and CB; chemical analysis was performed by LP and PM. CC and MS checked for the last version. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Corrado Battisti.

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Pietrelli, L., Dodaro, G., Pelosi, I. et al. Microplastic in an apex predator: evidence from Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets in two sites with different levels of anthropization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 33155–33162 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33637-8

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