EXPOSURE AND RISK OF MARINE TURTLES TO MARINE DEBRIS AND MICROPLASTIC

Marine turtles are affected by marine debris during every stage of their life.  They crawl through plastic on the way to the ocean as hatchlings, swim through it while migrating, confuse it for food and then crawl back through it as adults. Hundreds of thousands of marine turtles die each year from ocean pollution and ingestion or entanglement in marine debris.  Concern also exists on whether marine debris, in particular microplastics can transport toxicants and alter sediment properties affecting temperature and sediment permeability and thus the reproductive output at marine turtle nesting grounds. Our lab focuses on quantifying the exposure of marine turtles to marine debris and understanding the impacts that it may have on marine turtles.