Dinner Was Literally Garbage: Tracking Inter-Annual Trends in Plastic Ingestion by Hawaiian Laysan Albatrosses

Plastic pollution in the world's oceans poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, with seabirds like the Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) particularly susceptible due to their surface foraging behaviors. This study examines the inter-annual variation in plastic ingestion by Hawaiian Laysan albatrosses, focusing on bolus contents collected between 2020 and 2023 from two breeding colonies in Oahu, Hawaii. A total of 59 boluses were analyzed for natural and non-natural materials, with plastics consistently present across all years. Plastic fragments were the most frequent non-natural item, followed by filaments and rope, although the relative proportions varied annually. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in bolus contents between years (p=0.002), particularly between 2021 and 2023 (p=0.005). No significant differences were found between the two colonies, suggesting overlapping foraging ranges and similar exposure to pollution. The results highlight the persistent and varying presence of marine debris, with the marked divergence in 2023 potentially reflecting shifts in oceanic pollution patterns or foraging behavior. These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring of plastic ingestion trends and their ecological implications, as well as the integration of environmental datasets to better understand the drivers of such variations.