Odei Garcia-Garin

Universitat de Girona | UDG · Department of Environmental Sciences

The threats posed by floating marine macro-litter (FMML) of anthropogenic origin to the marine fauna, and marine ecosystems in general, are universally recognized. Dedicated monitoring programmes and mitigation measures are in place to address this issue worldwide, with the increasing support of new technologies and the automation of analytical pro...

Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a well-known class of pollutants which can bioaccumulate and biomagnify with a vast majority being highly persistent. This study aims to determine the biomagnification rates of PFAS in sexually mature striped dolphins and to assess temporal trends on PFAS concentrations over the past three decades (199...

Lead (Pb) is a trace element that is naturally present in arid regions but it is also released to the marine environment by anthropogenic industrial emissions. Here, we assessed Pb concentrations in bone samples of four pinniped species: the Galapagos sea lion Zalophus wollebaeki, sampled in Galapagos archipelago, the monk seal Monachus monachus fr...

The conservation and management of marine ecosystems hinge on a comprehensive understanding of the status and trends of top predators. This review delves into the ecological significance of marine top predators, examining their roles in maintaining ecosystem stability and functioning through an integrated analysis of current scientific literature....

In this study, we aimed to quantify the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the stomachs of large pelagic fish (swordfish, Xiphias gladius, Linnaeus, 1758) sampled in the western Mediterranean Sea, and assess temporal trends (2011–2012 vs. 2017–2019) in MP ingestion. MPs were extracted from stomachs and characterized by μ-Fourier transform infrared...

Studying the sympatric ecology of closely related marine top predator species is of interest both from an ecological and conservation standpoint, because it provides insights into ecosystem functioning, how such species avoid competitive exclusion, and how human stressors may impact these patterns. In this study, we examine the isotopic niche of th...

Anthropogenic litter, such as plastic, is investigated by the global scientific community from various fields employing diverse techniques. The goal is to assess and finally mitigate the pollutants' impacts on the natural environment. Plastic litter can accumulate in different matrices of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, impacting both biota and...

As the use of drones and high-resolution imagery become increasingly common in cetacean studies, efficient data processing through Deep Learning tools still remains a challenge. To test suitability for cetacean monitoring, high-resolution videos were obtained through the fixed-wing and long-endurance drone TEKEVER AR5 Evolution, a medium-size RPAS...

The EU regulative framework for the protection of marine biodiversity and habitats requires the assessment of species' conservation status and the identification of core habitats to design adequate conservation and management plans. However, the identification of distribution range and habitat-use of pelagic large-range, migratory species, such as...

Marine debris pollution poses a significant global threat to biodiversity, with plastics being the primary debris type found in oceans due to their low-cost production and high demand worldwide. Microplastics (MPs, <5 mm in size) are highly bioavailable to a wide range of marine taxa, including marine mammals, through direct and indirect ingestion...

Bisphenols (BPs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) are important compounds for the plastics industry, also called “everywhere chemicals” due to their ubiquity in daily use products. Both chemical groups are well-known environmental contaminants, whose presence has been reported in all environmental compartments, and whose effects, mainly associated to en...

Although aluminum is widely distributed in the earth's crust, its environmental availability and wildlife assimilation rates are only partially known. Here we analyze aluminum concentrations in bone from 10 species of marine mammals inhabiting 3 geographic areas subject to different aluminum inputs: the Río de la Plata estuary (Uruguay), the coasta...

Introduction Conservation of cetaceans is challenging due to their large-range, highly-dynamic nature. The EU Habitats Directive (HD) reports 78% of species in ‘unknown’ conservation status, and information on low-density/elusive species such G.griseus, G.melas, Z.cavirostris is the most scattered. Methods The FLT-Net programme has regularly colle...

Marine mammals are one of the groups of animals most affected by marine pollution including that by organic compounds which, besides bearing recognised harmful effects to adults, they may also affect foetuses through placental transfer. In this study we analysed samples of fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) females and their foetuses collected in th...

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a migratory filter-feeding species that is susceptible to ingest plastics while lunge feeding across the oceans. Plastic additives, such as phthalates, are compounds that are added to plastics to give them specific characteristics, such as flexibility. These so-called plasticizers are currently raising major...

The abundance of litter pollution in the marine environment has been increasing globally. Remote sensing techniques are valuable tools to advance knowledge on litter abundance, distribution and dynamics. Images collected by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV, aka drones) are highly efficient to map and monitor local beached (BL) and floating (FL) marine...

In this study we aim to assess the daily ingestion rates of synthetic particles by the fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) that feed off the western coast of Iceland. To do so, we collected and analysed samples from the stomach content of 25 fin whales, consisting solely of northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica). The particles found consisted of...

The estuary of Río de la Plata, in the eastern coast of South America, is a highly anthropized area that brings a high load of contaminants to the surrounding waters which may have detrimental effects on the local marine fauna. The franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small cetacean species endemic of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean li...

IMPEL, Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), marine habitats, cetacean conservation, marine protected areas, Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), biodiversity, marine endangered species, ecosystem monitoring, keystone species, fixed transects, ferries, monitoring large marine invertebrates, monitoring from platforms, platform of opportunity. Ilari...

Monitoring Floating Marine Macro Litter (FMML) is a global priority, stressed within international programs, and regulated for the European Seas by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Although some well-defined common protocols exist for the assessment of beach litter and ingested litter, methodologies for FMML monitoring still vary, leading t...

Microplastics are present in almost all seas and oceans, including the Southern Ocean. To the south of the Antarctic Polar Front, microplastics are present mainly west to the Antarctic Peninsula, but information is scarce about their impact on the pelagic food web. Here, we analysed 42 scats of male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) colle...

The aim of the present study was twofold: (i) to validate the drone methodology for floating marine macro-litter (FMML) monitoring, by comparing the results obtained through concurrent drone surveys and visual observations from vessels, and (ii) to assess FMML densities along the North Western Mediterranean Sea using the validated drone surveys. Th...

This study assesses microplastic ingestion in Boops boops at different geographical areas in the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 884 fish were caught at 20 coastal sites in Spain, France, Italy and Greece and analyzed using a common methodological protocol. Microplastics were found in 46.8% of the sampled fish, with an average number of items per ind...

Plastic litter pollution is increasing in the seas and oceans worldwide, raising concern on the potential effects of plasticizer additives on marine fauna. In this study, muscle samples of 30 bogues (Boops boops; Linneaus, 1758) from the North Western Mediterranean Sea were analysed to assess the concentrations of 19 organophosphate flame retardant...

Pollution of the marine environment by litter composed of plastics is a growing concern. Chemical additives such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), which are added to plastics to improve their qualities, are in focus because they allegedly cause adverse effects on marine fauna. Here we analyse OPFR levels in the muscle of fin whales becau...

Pollution by marine litter is raising major concerns due to its potential impact on marine biodiversity and, above all, on endangered mega-fauna species, such as cetaceans and sea turtles. The density and distribution of marine litter and mega-fauna have been traditionally monitored through observer-based methods, yet the advent of new technologies...

Abstract: Floating marine macro-litter (FMML) is threatening marine ecosystems worldwide. The five subtropical gyres have the largest FMML densities of all oceans, but coastal waters and semi-enclosed seas like the Mediterranean Sea are also highly polluted. FMML has been monitored principally through observer-based methods (marine platforms, aeria...

Microplastic pollution is a growing cause of concern for the marine environment, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, which is considered to be one of the most polluted seas worldwide. In this study, the gastrointestinal tracts of 102 bogues (Boops boops), sampled from three areas off the Catalan coast (Spain) subject to different degrees of indu...

The monitoring of highly mobile species such cetaceans and sea turtle is challenging, and long term dataset based on seasonal repeated surveys can deliver primary information for understanding the main drivers of species movements and detecting early sign of changes. The synoptic monitoring of main threats is also a powerful method for a risk asses...

Nowadays marine litter heavily affects the marine environment, especially in the semi enclosed Mediterranean basin. Marine mammals are amongst the most threatened indicative species. To prioritize marine conservation measures, data are needed to analyse litter impact on marine fauna and highlight the dynamic overlap between pressures and the primar...