Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles
Emily M. Duncan,
Annette C. Broderick,
Wayne J. Fuller,
Tamara S. Galloway,
Matthew H. Godfrey,
Mark Hamann,
Colin J. Limpus,
Penelope K. Lindeque,
Andrew G. Mayes,
Lucy C. M. Omeyer,
David Santillo,
Robin T. E. Snape,
Brendan J. Godley,
Emily M. Duncan
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
College of Life and Environmental Sciences: Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAnnette C. Broderick
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Search for more papers by this authorWayne J. Fuller
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey
Society for Protection of Turtles, Kyrenia, North Cyprus, Turkey
Search for more papers by this authorTamara S. Galloway
College of Life and Environmental Sciences: Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Search for more papers by this authorMatthew H. Godfrey
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Beaufort, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorMark Hamann
College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorColin J. Limpus
Department of Environment and Science, Threatened Species Unit, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorPenelope K. Lindeque
Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAndrew G. Mayes
School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
Search for more papers by this authorLucy C. M. Omeyer
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Santillo
Greenpeace Research Laboratories, School of Biosciences, Innovation Centre Phase 2, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Search for more papers by this authorRobin T. E. Snape
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Society for Protection of Turtles, Kyrenia, North Cyprus, Turkey
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Brendan J. Godley
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Correspondence
Brendan J. Godley, Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorEmily M. Duncan,
Annette C. Broderick,
Wayne J. Fuller,
Tamara S. Galloway,
Matthew H. Godfrey,
Mark Hamann,
Colin J. Limpus,
Penelope K. Lindeque,
Andrew G. Mayes,
Lucy C. M. Omeyer,
David Santillo,
Robin T. E. Snape,
Brendan J. Godley,
Emily M. Duncan
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
College of Life and Environmental Sciences: Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAnnette C. Broderick
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Search for more papers by this authorWayne J. Fuller
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey
Society for Protection of Turtles, Kyrenia, North Cyprus, Turkey
Search for more papers by this authorTamara S. Galloway
College of Life and Environmental Sciences: Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Search for more papers by this authorMatthew H. Godfrey
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Beaufort, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorMark Hamann
College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorColin J. Limpus
Department of Environment and Science, Threatened Species Unit, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorPenelope K. Lindeque
Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAndrew G. Mayes
School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
Search for more papers by this authorLucy C. M. Omeyer
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Santillo
Greenpeace Research Laboratories, School of Biosciences, Innovation Centre Phase 2, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
Search for more papers by this authorRobin T. E. Snape
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Society for Protection of Turtles, Kyrenia, North Cyprus, Turkey
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Brendan J. Godley
Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
Correspondence
Brendan J. Godley, Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Despite concerns regarding the environmental impacts of microplastics, knowledge of the incidence and levels of synthetic particles in large marine vertebrates is lacking. Here, we utilize an optimized enzymatic digestion methodology, previously developed for zooplankton, to explore whether synthetic particles could be isolated from marine turtle ingesta. We report the presence of synthetic particles in every turtle subjected to investigation (n = 102) which included individuals from all seven species of marine turtle, sampled from three ocean basins (Atlantic [ATL]: n = 30, four species; Mediterranean (MED): n = 56, two species; Pacific (PAC): n = 16, five species). Most particles (n = 811) were fibres (ATL: 77.1% MED: 85.3% PAC: 64.8%) with blue and black being the dominant colours. In lesser quantities were fragments (ATL: 22.9%: MED: 14.7% PAC: 20.2%) and microbeads (4.8%; PAC only; to our knowledge the first isolation of microbeads from marine megavertebrates). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of a subsample of particles (n = 169) showed a range of synthetic materials such as elastomers (MED: 61.2%; PAC: 3.4%), thermoplastics (ATL: 36.8%: MED: 20.7% PAC: 27.7%) and synthetic regenerated cellulosic fibres (SRCF; ATL: 63.2%: MED: 5.8% PAC: 68.9%). Synthetic particles being isolated from species occupying different trophic levels suggest the possibility of multiple ingestion pathways. These include exposure from polluted seawater and sediments and/or additional trophic transfer from contaminated prey/forage items. We assess the likelihood that microplastic ingestion presents a significant conservation problem at current levels compared to other anthropogenic threats.
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