Carolin Philipp

Nanotechnology Session

Friday, October, 1st, 2021, 01:30pm – 03:00pm

Microplastic Findings in Marine Mammals from German Waters

Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation)


Abstract

The Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation) investigates stranded marine mammal carcasses collected in the course of a stranding network in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) covering the German North- and Baltic Seas. Necropsies of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are conducted for health investigations. Samples of intestines, including faeces, whole stomachs, as well as scats from known haul-out sites, were collected, examined and evaluated.

This is the first study in German waters, which investigates microplastic findings in different marine mammal species from the North and Baltic Seas. Combining interdisciplinary methods and new ideas results in the establishment of analysation steps and facilitates new insights into microplastic occurrence in gastrointestinal tracts in marine mammals.


Biosketch

Dr Carolin Philipp recently has done a PhD focussing on microplastic occurrence in gastrointestinal tracts of marine mammals. She is a marine biologist currently working at the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of the Veterinary University of Hannover (Foundation), located in Büsum (Germany). This research was part of the “Assessment and implementation of long-term monitoring of pollution of diverse marine compartments and biota with marine litter” funded by the Federal Environment Agency Germany (Umweltbundesamt, Project No. FKZ 3717252250). In September 2021, she is starting a postdoc position at the Norwegian Polar Institute, focussing on microplastic presence in Arctic water samples. 

Contact

Website

ORCID


Publications

First Evidence of Retrospective Findings of Microplastics in Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) From German Waters

Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters