Geophagy and plasticophagy in Coragyps atratus

Abstract

Geophagy is the intentional or incidental consumption of soil by animals. It is considered unusual behavior, and its explanations debated and controversial. Plasticophagy is the deliberate or accidental consumption of plastics, an increasingly frequent phenomenon in birds around the world. Here we document the first soil and plastic intake data on Coragyps atratus in Ecuador. We work in a waste dump in the city of Calceta and on the beach of Canoa (Manabí). At the landfill we analyzed 112 pellets. We obtained 18 subcategories of anthropogenic materials and soil. We found soil in nine pellets (8%) and plastics in all samples. Metals, glass, cardboard and indeterminates were also found. Analysis of the evidence would indicate that the ingestion of soil and plastic could be incidental. We discuss the potential implications of ingesting soil and plastic as vehicles for exposure to heavy metals, persistent organic compounds, and pesticides. Our contributions contribute to knowing the natural history of the species in anthropic contexts in order to design management and conservation policies; as well as its harmonious integration into anthropogenic ecosystems.