Plastic Waste in the Amazon Forest: What is the Future of the Ecosystem Services Provided by the Local Bats?

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have become an environmental concern, prompting studies with humans and various animals for continuous improvement. The aim of this study was to investigate the ingestion of MPs in bats from the Brazilian Legal Amazon. The entire digestive system (esophagus to anus) and respiratory system (trachea to lungs) of 81 individuals representing 25 different bat species were analyzed separately. This research marks the first report of microplastics in Amazonian bats, revealing that 95.06% of the analyzed bats showed contamination by MPs. The digestive system exhibited the highest contamination, and fibers were the sole form identified. Ingestion and inhalation of plastic waste can occur through direct or indirect contact with contaminated air, water, or food. The observed contamination by MPs, particularly in the digestive system, underscores the importance of future studies examining bat feces to assess the quantity of excreted MPs.

Keywords: Microplastic, Chiropteros, digestive system, respiratory system