Birds don't like eating plastic. But more seabirds are eating plastic waste in the world's oceans. Why？
It is possibly because the plastic waste smells like food, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances.
Matthew Savoca is the study's lead author at the University of California, Davis. "Animals usually have a reason for the decisions they make, " he said. "If we want to truly understand why animals are eating plastic in the ocean, we have to think about how animals find food. "
The study found that plastic waste easily gathers algae （海藻） on the water. Together, they give off a smell that is very similar to the krill （磷虾） that many seabirds feed on. It could explain why some birds ― including albatrosses （信天翁） and shearwaters （剪水鹱）― are nearly six times more likely to eat plastic than other birds. They usually find food by their sense of smell.
More plastic pollution enters the world's oceans every year. A study last year showed that about 8 million tons （吨） of plastic enters the oceans every year. It is enough to cover every coastline in the world.
Birds and other sea animals, such as turtles and fish, eat plastic. It can badly hurt their organs （器官）. Some birds even mistakenly feed their babies waste instead of food.
Scientists hope this study can raise an alarm （警报） about plastic in our oceans and help save the seabirds.
