Researchers at FSU have discovered that higher concentrations of microplastics in sand can threaten the development of incubating sea turtles. In a study conducted at the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory, it was found that samples of sand with higher microplastic concentrations had the greatest increases in temperature.
“Sea turtle sex, fitness, and hatchling success is influenced by temperature,” said Mariana Fuentes, a researcher at the FSU Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science. “Understanding how changes to the environment could affect the temperature of nesting grounds is important for monitoring the future of these keystone species.”
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