Risk assessment reveals high exposure of sea turtles to marine debris in French Mediterranean and metropolitan Atlantic waters

Plastic Pollution and Its Ecological Impacts on Sea Turtles: A Comprehensive Review

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed the full spectrum of plastic pollution threats to all seven sea turtle species, covering ingestion-driven gastrointestinal obstruction and nutritional dilution, entanglement injuries, and the effects of beach plastic accumulation on nest temperature, hatchling success, and sex ratios.

Microplastics and sea turtle reproduction: A systematic review on nest contamination and developmental risks

AI summary

This research examined the ecotoxicological effects of microplastic exposure on freshwater stingrays, assessing behavioral, physiological, and reproductive impacts in a Neotropical elasmobranch species. The study provides novel data on microplastic effects in cartilaginous fish, expanding ecotoxicological understanding beyond teleost fish models.

Quantification and Identification of Marine Litter on Five Beaches of the North-Central Algerian Coast

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers quantified and identified marine litter on five beaches along Algeria's north-central coast, finding plastic fragments and fishing gear dominate the debris, with significant accumulation driven by inadequate waste management. Beach litter surveys in understudied African coastal regions are essential for building a complete global picture of plastic pollution sources and the pathways through which macroplastics degrade into microplastics.

Multi-scale assessment of marine plastic pollution on the Algerian western coast: New indices and dual-mesh approach

Floating Microplastics in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea: Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneities

AI summary · Read the abstract

Floating microplastic concentrations in the northwestern Mediterranean showed significant spatial and temporal variation at small scales near coastal river mouths, with levels spiking after rainfall events that flush plastics from land into the sea. This heterogeneity means that single-point measurements dramatically underestimate total microplastic loads, calling for more intensive and dynamic monitoring strategies in heavily polluted enclosed seas.