Seabird family tree predicts plastic accumulation better than diet

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorResearchers analyzing two hundred forty seabird species found that a bird's relatives predict plastic in its stomach better than its diet does, Phys.org reports.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTurns out it's the family tree that matters. Of the two hundred forty, a hundred eighty-two had plastic and fifty-eight didn't.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWhich means we get to hand out an award. BBN's Animal of the Day goes to the entire seabird family tree.

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe whole tree? That's a lot of cousins.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOfficially, the Most Predictable Bloodline in the Sea.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorStat line: two hundred forty species studied, sixty-two percent of all seabirds, zero consistent explanations from the traits tested.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentZero consistent traits. Diet, feeding method, none of it held up. Family was the only thing that did.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd my favorite detail is the albatross, which skims its beak across the water and takes in whatever floats by. National Geographic has that one.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd every cousin has notifications on. Nobody mutes the albatross.

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    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe family says it's honored and will be thanking its ancestors. Kenji, say something kind.

11. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRating, five out of five branches. And the speech is going to be just a really long reply-all.