Biology Seminar Series: Jennifer Provencher

• In-person event
• 4440Q, Carleton Technology and Training Centre, Carleton University
• 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6

Adjunct Nomination Seminar

Plastic Pollution in wildlife; trends, knowledge gaps, and emerging international policies

Coffee will be available at 2:00pm

Abstract:
Plastic ingestion reported in seabirds since in the 1980s represents one of the most standardized and widely applied marine plastic data sets available. Tracking plastic pollution via seabirds has informed policy reduction targets in Europe, but as we learn more about the source and fate of plastic pollution standardized methods are allowing us to gain insight how plastics may be vectors for chemical contaminants in biota, and how birds may be a vector themselves for plastics to move from the marine to the terrestrial environment, illustrating the widespread impact plastics may have on ecosystem health. This talk will discuss what we know about plastic pollution via wildlife indicator species, what questions emerging fields are trying to address, and the next steps in understanding how plastic pollution affects ecosystems, both in the marina and terrestrial environment.