A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Occurrence of ingested human litter in winter arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from Svalbard, Norway
Authors: Hallanger Ingeborg G., Ask Amalie, Fuglei Eva
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication year: 2022
Journal:Environmental Pollution
Journal name in sourceENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Journal acronym: ENVIRON POLLUT
Article number: 119099
Volume: 303
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 0269-7491
eISSN: 1873-6424
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119099
Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of human litter ingested by arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) caught in Svalbard, Norway, in winter when scavenging is at its highest. Twenty arctic fox stomachs and intestines were examined for human litter and plastic using the protocol from the Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR) for monitoring plastic ingestion by the northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) (human litter and plastic >1 mm). The arctic foxes had ingested human litter at a low frequency (15%, 3 out of 20 foxes). Despite the low sample size, we do not regard ingestion of human litter as an immediate threat to the arctic fox population in Svalbard.
The aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of human litter ingested by arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) caught in Svalbard, Norway, in winter when scavenging is at its highest. Twenty arctic fox stomachs and intestines were examined for human litter and plastic using the protocol from the Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR) for monitoring plastic ingestion by the northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) (human litter and plastic >1 mm). The arctic foxes had ingested human litter at a low frequency (15%, 3 out of 20 foxes). Despite the low sample size, we do not regard ingestion of human litter as an immediate threat to the arctic fox population in Svalbard.
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