70% of the litter in agricultural fields is plastic waste Environmental News

2024-08-26 08:03:16

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European University

Spain

Environmental News

August 26, 2024

The European University has played a fundamental role in the innovative research that shows the worrying presence of plastic waste in bird nests located in the Mediterranean agricultural regions.

This study found that 71% of verdigris nests and 96% of their common magpie inside plastic. The study, carried out in collaboration with the European University of Valencia and the European University of Madrid, shows that the plastic waste It not only affects aquatic ecosystems, but also terrestrial ones. The researchers observed that both the magpie and the common magpie prefer to incorporate plastic filaments into their nests, perhaps because these materials resemble the natural elements they use traditionally.

In particular, the magpie was found to select small plastic filaments and avoid black ones, while the magpie did not show a clear preference for the size or color of the plastics. These findings were obtained after analyzing nests collected in a field of orange trees in Sagunt, Valencia, where we found 13,889 pieces of plastic per hectare, with a significant proportion of plastic filaments.

Research shows that plastic is 20% of the total body parts observed in nests, suggesting a high presence of these wastes in local agricultural crops. The preference for filamentous forms is explained by their similarity to the natural materials used by birds to build their nests. In addition, the rejection of black color may be because black absorbs more heat, which can overheat the eggs or hatchlings.

This work represents an important advance in understanding how plastic pollution affects birds and highlights the need to fully address plastic pollution, not only in oceans, but also in terrestrial environments. The study shows the importance of collaborations between academic institutions, such as the University of Valencia, the European University of Valencia and the European University of Madrid, in studying global environmental problems and finding effective solutions.

The results obtained from the study provide a solid basis for future research and conservation actions, highlighting the urgent need to improve plastic waste management in agricultural areas to protect local wildlife and preserve biodiversity.

Source: EU