Date of Award
12-17-2019
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Dr. Christy Visaggi
Second Advisor
Dr. Dajun Dai
Third Advisor
Dr. Brian Meyer
Fourth Advisor
Dr. David Steen
Abstract
Since the 1950s, the mass production and use of plastics worldwide has increased exponentially. Their one-time use and durability has made them both accessible and affordable to global human populations. These more immediate benefits have come at a cost to the world’s oceans. Plastics have since impaired, injured, and even killed countless marine species, such as sea turtles, often becoming entangled in or ingesting these plastics. New research has demonstrated the ability of microplastics to affect sea turtles before they hatch by altering the microenvironment within the nest. This research examines how both macro- and microplastics could contribute to the depreciation of the sand quality of a significant loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia. The study utilizes historic data to identify existing long-term temporal and spatial trends in nesting activities, alongside census data on surface macroplastics, and microplastics extracted from the sediments of the sea turtle nest.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/15912947
Recommended Citation
Mollet Saint Benoit, Celine, "Examining The Density And Distribution Of Micro And Macroplastics As A Possible Contributor To Sea Turtle Nesting Sand Habitat Quality." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2019.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/15912947
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