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Debris Content for UC DavisenWhy Do Seabirds Eat Plastic? The Answer Stinks
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<p>We know plastic in the ocean is a problem. But why do seabirds eat marine plastic in the first place? A UC Davis study found that marine plastic debris emits the scent of a sulfurous compound that some seabirds have relied upon for thousands of years to tell them where to find food. This olfactory cue essentially tricks the birds into confusing marine plastic with food.</p>November 09, 2016 - 10:20amKatherine E Kerlin/news/why-do-seabirds-eat-plastic-answer-stinks