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A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches
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Researchers coordinated a global sampling effort across 209 marine turtle nesting beaches in six ocean basins to assess microplastic contamination in beach sediments. They found microplastics present on 45% of beaches, with the Mediterranean showing the highest contamination rate at 80%. The study provides an open-access dataset to support ongoing monitoring of plastic pollution in critical nesting habitats.
Sandy coastal beaches are an important nesting habitat for marine turtles and a known sink for plastic pollution. Existing methodologies for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of abundance and composition of plastic are, however, disparate. We engaged a global network of marine turtle scientists to implement a large-scale sampling effort to assess microplastic abundance in beach sediments on marine turtle nesting beaches. Sand samples were collected from 209 sites spanning six oceans, microplastics (1-5 mm) were extracted through stacked sieves, visually identified, and a sub-sample verified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 45 % (n = 94) of beaches and within five ocean basins. Microplastic presence and abundance was found to vary markedly within and among ocean basins, with the highest proportion of contaminated beaches found in the Mediterranean (80 %). We present all data in an accessible, open access format to facilitate the extension of monitoring efforts and empower novel analytical approaches.
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Researchers found extreme microplastic pollution at 17 sea turtle nesting sites in Cyprus, with all locations contaminated at all depths and mean particle counts reaching 45,497 per m2 in the top 2 cm of sand, revealing severe plastic contamination at critical habitat for loggerhead and green turtles.
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Researchers characterized microplastic distribution and sources on beaches of the Qilianyu Islands, China's largest remaining green turtle nesting grounds, finding significant contamination despite the islands' remote location. The study identified microplastic hotspots that could threaten turtle nesting success and hatchling health.
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Researchers found an average of 2,567 microplastic pieces per square meter in beach sediments at historical green turtle nesting grounds on Hainan Island, China, with polystyrene and polyethylene foam fragments dominating and small particles (0.05-1 mm) most prevalent, raising concerns about nesting habitat quality.
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Researchers compiled global seafloor microplastic data from 155 marine sediment samples including detailed sampling metadata and abundance measurements for 20 microplastic categories, providing foundational data for understanding the distribution and uncertainty of microplastic contamination on the seafloor.
Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles
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Researchers examined over 100 marine turtles across all seven species and found synthetic particles in every single individual tested. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion is ubiquitous across marine turtle species, regardless of geographic location or life stage, raising broad concerns about plastic contamination in large marine vertebrates.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.