Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastic debris by green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Great Barrier Reef: Validation of a sequential extraction protocol

Researchers developed and validated a sequential extraction protocol for recovering microplastics from green sea turtle intestinal contents, finding microplastics in turtles from the Great Barrier Reef. The validated method enables more consistent and accurate assessment of microplastic contamination in sea turtles, which are both ecologically important and frequently exposed to marine debris.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 178 citations
Article Tier 2

Widespread microplastic pollution across the Caribbean Sea confirmed using queen conch

Researchers confirmed widespread microplastic pollution across eleven Caribbean Sea sites using fecal samples from queen conch as a non-lethal biomonitoring method, finding plastic particles in all locations and documenting contamination throughout this biodiversity-rich marine ecosystem.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Monk seal faeces as a non-invasive technique to monitor the incidence of ingested microplastics and potential presence of plastic additives

Researchers used a non-invasive technique to collect and analyze monk seal fecal samples for microplastic contamination, marking the first time this approach has been used for this endangered species. They found microplastic particles in the samples along with plastic additives and biomarkers indicating dietary exposure. The method offers a practical way to monitor microplastic ingestion in protected marine mammals without disturbing the animals.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution and health metrics in wild juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two Ecuadorian national parks: Galápagos and Machalilla

Researchers examined wild juvenile green sea turtles from two Ecuadorian national parks to assess plastic pollution in their feces and its relationship to health metrics. Using infrared spectroscopy, they identified various plastic polymers in fecal samples from both the Galapagos and Machalilla populations. The study provides evidence that plastic ingestion is widespread among young sea turtles, even in protected marine areas.

2024 Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Occurrence in the Diet of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) From the Coastal Region of São Paulo, Brazil

Researchers analyzed the gastrointestinal contents of 218 green sea turtles from the coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and detected microplastics in nearly 46% of samples. Microplastics were found in 75% of samples from the more urbanized central-south coast compared to 35% from the northern coast, suggesting that proximity to human activity significantly influences microplastic ingestion rates in marine wildlife.

2025 Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of an optimised protocol for quantification of microplastics in heterogenous samples: A case study using green turtle chyme

This paper developed and validated an optimized protocol for extracting and quantifying microplastics from the gut contents of marine organisms. Having a reliable, standardized method is essential for generating consistent data on microplastic ingestion across different species and studies.

2018 MethodsX 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles

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.

2018 Global Change Biology 309 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Distribution Characteristics and Sources on Beaches That Serve as the Largest Nesting Ground for Green Turtles in China

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.

2024 Toxics 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Using a non‐invasive technique to identify suspected microplastics in grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) living in the western North Sea

Faecal samples from living wild grey seals in the western North Sea were analyzed for suspected microplastics, representing the first non-invasive record of microplastic exposure in this wild pinniped population. The study demonstrates that faecal analysis can provide indirect evidence of microplastic ingestion in free-ranging marine mammals without requiring capture or euthanasia.

2022 Veterinary Record 10 citations
Article Tier 2

The microplastic pollution in beaches that served as historical nesting grounds for green turtles on Hainan Island, China

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.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 26 citations
Article Tier 2

A methodology for the sampling and identification of microplastics in bird nests

Researchers developed and tested a green (chemical-free) method to extract and identify microplastics from bird nests, finding an average of 250 microplastic items per nest in urban Great-tailed grackle nests, mostly synthetic polyethylene and polypropylene fibers. Bird nests offer a practical, non-invasive way to monitor microplastic contamination in urban and terrestrial environments.

2022 Green Analytical Chemistry 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Sea Turtle Nests on the Beaches of Nautla and Vega de Alatorre, Veracruz

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in sea turtle nesting beaches in Veracruz, Mexico, documenting contamination levels and types that could alter sand properties and negatively affect turtle egg incubation conditions.

2023 Microplastics 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Endoscopy and rectal enema for fecal collection in wild sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata) in a field setting

Researchers developed and tested an endoscopy-assisted rectal enema method for collecting large fecal samples from wild sea turtles for environmental exposure research. Sea turtles regularly ingest microplastics mistaking them for food, and improved fecal sampling methods allow better assessment of their plastic ingestion levels.

2023 Zoo Biology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic contamination of a Galapagos Island (Ecuador) and the relative risks to native marine species

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of plastic contamination across the marine ecosystem of a Galapagos island — covering beaches, water, sediment, and invertebrates — and found widespread contamination including in native species, identifying dominant sources and risk levels for key marine animals.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 111 citations
Article Tier 2

A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches

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.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on Beaches in the Nautla-Vega de Alatorre Turtle Nesting Area, Veracruz

Researchers characterized microplastics (1-5 mm) on five beaches along a 15.5 km sea turtle nesting area in Veracruz, Mexico, sampling the intertidal zone to assess contamination levels and potential sources. The study found microplastic presence across all surveyed beaches in a region used by green and Kemp's ridley turtles, raising concerns about plastic exposure risks to nesting and hatchling sea turtles.

2023 Microplastics 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Small Ruminants II

Researchers examined 100 fecal samples from goats in Manabí Province, Ecuador, finding microplastic contamination in all samples and identifying the specific plastic types using two laboratory processing methods.

2025
Article Tier 2

Data Collection on Marine Litter Ingestion in Sea Turtles and Thresholds for Good Environmental Status

Researchers developed a standardized protocol for collecting and analyzing marine litter ingested by sea turtles, providing methodology for extracting and quantifying litter items from dead turtles to fulfill EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive requirements for assessing Good Environmental Status.

2019 Journal of Visualized Experiments 30 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on microplastics in mammalian feces: Monitoring techniques and associated challenges

Researchers reviewed how microplastics appear in the feces of humans, dogs, cats, and marine mammals, finding PET plastic to be the most common type across species. Analyzing feces offers a non-invasive way to track how much plastic organisms are ingesting, which could help guide environmental health policies.

2025 Environmental Challenges
Article Tier 2

Garbage in guano? Microplastic debris found in faecal precursors of seabirds known to ingest plastics

Microplastics including fibers and fragments were detected in faecal precursors (pellets) from seabirds known to ingest plastics, providing non-lethal evidence of plastic ingestion that could be used in monitoring programs. The method offers a practical way to assess plastic ingestion in protected seabird species without requiring destructive sampling.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 219 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Extraction from Marine Vertebrate Digestive Tracts, Regurgitates and Scats: A Protocol for Researchers from All Experience Levels

This paper presents a standardized protocol for extracting and identifying microplastics from the digestive systems of marine vertebrates (mammals, birds, turtles, and fish). Having consistent, accessible methods is essential for generating comparable data on how much plastic wildlife across different species and regions are ingesting.

2018 BIO-PROTOCOL 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards the suitable monitoring of ingestion of microplastics by marine biota: A review

This review assessed various monitoring methods for detecting microplastic ingestion by marine biota, comparing laboratory and field-based approaches. The authors recommend method selection based on organism type and research question and call for more consistent reporting standards to enable cross-study comparison.

2016 Environmental Pollution 254 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution on sandy beaches of Puerto Rico

Researchers sampled sand from six northern beaches of Puerto Rico to determine microplastic abundance and composition, documenting the extent of microplastic pollution on Caribbean island coastal beaches that are considered biodiversity hotspots.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods of Microplastics in Marine Organisms

This review synthesizes global data on microplastic occurrence and distribution across marine organisms, comparing the advantages and limitations of different extraction and identification methods used in the field.

2024