The problem of plastic pollution in our oceans has become a trending issue
recently. A paper was just accepted for publication in the Marine Pollution
Bulletin about using fulmars as an indicator of plastic pollution here in
the Pacific Northwest. It's remarkable how much plastic these researchers
are finding in these fumlars's stomachs. There's an article in Science
Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120704124321.htm) if
you'd like to read more (don't mind the incorrectly labeled photo of a
"Northern Fulmar" though). You can also read the abstract of the paper here
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X12001828) and
see some of the preliminary results (with great photos) on the Slater
Museum's blog (
http://slatermuseum.blogspot.com/2010/12/microplastics-in-northern-fulmars-as.html).
The fulmars that were collected in Oregon and Washington were examined by
an old student at the Slater Museum in Tacoma, Lydia Kleine. We're very
excited to see her research in press now!

-Robert Niese

Education and Outreach Coordinator
Slater Museum of Natural History
University of Puget Sound,
Tacoma, WA 98416-1088 USA
+1 (253) 879-3356
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