Metrics
75 File views/ downloads
227 Record Views
Thesis
Assessing Microplastics Contamination in Unviable Sea Turtle Eggs of Caretta caretta in Northwest Florida
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2023
Abstract
Plastics have invaded virtually every habitat on Earth, including marine ecosystems. The impact on aquatic organisms is evident as strandings and necropsies reveal an overwhelming presence of both macro and microplastic contamination. Implications of the adverse effects include obstruction to organs, decreased reproductive fitness, translocation, etc. However, sea turtles, in comparison with marine mammals, sea birds, and fishes, are the most affected by microplastics in terms of number of individuals impacted and concentration within each organism. The ubiquitous nature and persistence of microplastics in the environment further compromises sea turtles as all seven species are currently threatened or endangered. Using sea turtles as biomonitors for microplastic pollution, this study aimed to form a more comprehensive investigation of microplastic contamination in the early-stage development of sea turtles. Although previous studies have quantified microplastic accumulation in post-hatchling and juvenile stages, assessments of microplastic contamination in unviable sea turtle eggs is nonexistent. Unviable loggerhead sea turtle eggs (Caretta caretta) were collected from seven locations along the northwest coast of Florida. A total of 70 nests and 350 eggs were examined. Chemical tissue digestion was carried out using potassium hydroxide (KOH), and sea turtle eggs were analyzed for microplastic presence. Microplastics (n=494) were found in undeveloped sea turtle eggs across all seven sites (p=0.000254), suggesting that maternal transference of microplastics is possible in loggerhead sea turtles. The predominant type was fibers (89.8%), polymer was polypropylene (34.6%), size of fibers 1-3mm (35%), size of fragments, films, beads, and one foam 2-20μm² (49%), and color was clear/white (50.9%).
Details
- Title
- Assessing Microplastics Contamination in Unviable Sea Turtle Eggs of Caretta caretta in Northwest Florida
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Alexis M Janosik (Committee Chair)Christopher Pomory (Committee Member)Margaret Lamont (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 47
- Copyright
- © 2023 Lindsay F. Curl
- Identifiers
- 99380461797206600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida