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

Zara L.R. Botterell; Jed Ardren; Elly Dove; Ellen McArthur; David S. Addison; Oyeronke M. Adegbile; Pierre Didier Agamboue; Andrews Agyekumhene; Phil Allman; Alexandra Alterman; Adren Anderson; Theresa Arenholz; Daniel Ariano-Sánchez; Zephania Arnold; José C. Báez; Anat Bahar; Castro Barbosa; Hector Barrios-Garrido; Eyup Başkale; Michael L. Berumen; Vanessa S. Bézy; Janice Blumenthal; Manuela R. Borja Bosquirolli; Alysia J. Boyce; Elizabeth Brammer-Robbins; Maria Branco; Annabelle M.L. Brooks; Nancy Bunbury; Luis Cardona; Helen Chadwick; Giannis Chalkias; Kimberly Chug; Jessica Clark; Matthew Cole; Rachel L. Coppock; Eduardo Cuevas; Tiffany M. Dawson; Maria Denaro; Rodrigo Donadi; Corrine Douglas; Ryan Douglas; Emily Drobes; Chloé Dubois; Emily M. Duncan; Chloe A. Elston; Nicole Esteban; Gabriela Fernandes; Maria B. Ferreira-Airaud; Sarah A. Finn; Jerome Fisayo Christie; Angela Formia; Sabrina Fossette-Halot; Mariana M.P.B. Fuentes; Tamara S. Galloway; Matthew H. Godfrey; Joanna Goodfellow; Vicente Guzmán-Hernández; Catherine E. Hart; Graeme C. Hays; Sarah E. Hirsch; Sandra Hochscheid; Karen G. Holloway-Adkins; Julia A. Horrocks; Emi Inoguchi; Gélica E. Inteca; Claire Jean; Yakup Kaska; Brice Didier Koumba Mabert; Amandine Lambot; Yaniv Levy; Ceri Lewis; César P. Ley-Quiñonez; Penelope K. Lindeque; Israel Llamas; Sergio Lopez-Martinez; Javier López-Navas; Kelsey Mack; Fernando M. Madeira; Fulvio Maffucci; Roksana Majewska; Agnese Mancini; Katherine L. Mansfield; Adolfo Marco; Dimitris Margaritoulis; Isabel Marques da Silva; Samir Martins; Andrew S. Maurer; Wendy J. McFarlane; Carmen Mejías-Balsalobre; Maxine A. Montello; Jeanne A. Mortimer; Sarah E. Nelms; Josep Nogués Vera; Christelle Not; Olga Novillo-Sanjuan; Karen Oceguera Camacho; Omri Omessi; Breanna Ondich; Mark Outerbridge; Nicolas Paranthoen; Jessica Pate; S. Michelle Pate; Ana R. Patrício; Odysseas Paxinos; Tami Pearl; Justin R. Perrault; Angela S. Picknell; Susanna Piovano; Ernesto I. Pococa Arellano; Alwyn Ponteen; Shritika S. Prakash; Jairo Quiros Rosales; Vicky Rae; Azzakirat B.A. Raman; Tyffen Read; Katie E. Reeve-Arnold; Richard D. Reina; Stefanie Reinhardt; Flavia Riberiro; Andrew J. Richardson; Marga L. Rivas; Dani Rob; Joseph Roche Chaloner; Christopher E. Rogers; Daniela Rojas-Cañizales; Frank Rosell; Enerit Sacdanaku; Yessica M. Salgado Gallegos; Cheryl Sanchez; Pilar Santidrián Tomillo; David Santillo; Denise Santos de Mora; Maïa Sarrouf Willson; Shir Sassoon; Emma A. Schultz; Felicity Shapland; Donna J. Shaver; Mandy W.K. So; Kelly Soluri; Guy-Philippe Sounguet; Doğan Sözbilen; Seth P. Stapleton; David A. Steen; Martin Stelfox; Kimberly M. Stewart; Lyndsey K. Tanabe; Luis A. Tello-Sahagun; Jesús Tomás; Davinia Torreblanca; Anton D. Tucker; Craig Turley; Ivon Vassileva; Sara Vieira; Martha R. Villalba-Guerra; Gerardo Villaseñor Castañeda; Ricardo Villaseñor Llamas; Matthew Ware; Sam B. Weber; Lindsey West; Clemency Whittles; Paul A. Whittock; Joseph Widlansky; Brendan J. Godley

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

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

Zara L.R. Botterell^*, Jed Ardren, Elly Dove, Ellen McArthur, David S. Addison, Oyeronke M. Adegbile, Pierre Didier Agamboue, Andrews Agyekumhene, Phil Allman, Alexandra Alterman, Adren Anderson, Theresa Arenholz, Daniel Ariano-Sánchez, Zephania Arnold, José C. Báez, Anat Bahar, Castro Barbosa, Hector Barrios-Garrido, Eyup Başkale, Michael L. BerumenVanessa S. Bézy, Janice Blumenthal, Manuela R. Borja Bosquirolli, Alysia J. Boyce, Elizabeth Brammer-Robbins, Maria Branco, Annabelle M.L. Brooks, Nancy Bunbury, Luis Cardona, Helen Chadwick, Giannis Chalkias, Kimberly Chug, Jessica Clark, Matthew Cole, Rachel L. Coppock, Eduardo Cuevas, Tiffany M. Dawson, Maria Denaro, Rodrigo Donadi, Corrine Douglas, Ryan Douglas, Emily Drobes, Chloé Dubois, Emily M. Duncan, Chloe A. Elston, Nicole Esteban, Gabriela Fernandes, Maria B. Ferreira-Airaud, Sarah A. Finn, Jerome Fisayo Christie, Angela Formia, Sabrina Fossette-Halot, Mariana M.P.B. Fuentes, Tamara S. Galloway, Matthew H. Godfrey, Joanna Goodfellow, Vicente Guzmán-Hernández, Catherine E. Hart, Graeme C. Hays, Sarah E. Hirsch, Sandra Hochscheid, Karen G. Holloway-Adkins, Julia A. Horrocks, Emi Inoguchi, Gélica E. Inteca, Claire Jean, Yakup Kaska, Brice Didier Koumba Mabert, Amandine Lambot, Yaniv Levy, Ceri Lewis, César P. Ley-Quiñonez, Penelope K. Lindeque, Israel Llamas, Sergio Lopez-Martinez, Javier López-Navas, Kelsey Mack, Fernando M. Madeira, Fulvio Maffucci, Roksana Majewska, Agnese Mancini, Katherine L. Mansfield, Adolfo Marco, Dimitris Margaritoulis, Isabel Marques da Silva, Samir Martins, Andrew S. Maurer, Wendy J. McFarlane, Carmen Mejías-Balsalobre, Maxine A. Montello, Jeanne A. Mortimer, Sarah E. Nelms, Josep Nogués Vera, Christelle Not, Olga Novillo-Sanjuan, Karen Oceguera Camacho, Omri Omessi, Breanna Ondich, Mark Outerbridge, Nicolas Paranthoen, Jessica Pate, S. Michelle Pate, Ana R. Patrício, Odysseas Paxinos, Tami Pearl, Justin R. Perrault, Angela S. Picknell, Susanna Piovano, Ernesto I. Pococa Arellano, Alwyn Ponteen, Shritika S. Prakash, Jairo Quiros Rosales, Vicky Rae, Azzakirat B.A. Raman, Tyffen Read, Katie E. Reeve-Arnold, Richard D. Reina, Stefanie Reinhardt, Flavia Riberiro, Andrew J. Richardson, Marga L. Rivas, Dani Rob, Joseph Roche Chaloner, Christopher E. Rogers, Daniela Rojas-Cañizales, Frank Rosell, Enerit Sacdanaku, Yessica M. Salgado Gallegos, Cheryl Sanchez, Pilar Santidrián Tomillo, David Santillo, Denise Santos de Mora, Maïa Sarrouf Willson, Shir Sassoon, Emma A. Schultz, Felicity Shapland, Donna J. Shaver, Mandy W.K. So, Kelly Soluri, Guy-Philippe Sounguet, Doğan Sözbilen, Seth P. Stapleton, David A. Steen, Martin Stelfox, Kimberly M. Stewart, Lyndsey K. Tanabe, Luis A. Tello-Sahagun, Jesús Tomás, Davinia Torreblanca, Anton D. Tucker, Craig Turley, Ivon Vassileva, Sara Vieira, Martha R. Villalba-Guerra, Gerardo Villaseñor Castañeda, Ricardo Villaseñor Llamas, Matthew Ware, Sam B. Weber, Lindsey West, Clemency Whittles, Paul A. Whittock, Joseph Widlansky, Brendan J. Godley

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Sandy coastal beaches are an important nesting habitat for marine turtles and a known sink for plastic pollution. Existing methodologies for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of abundance and composition of plastic are, however, disparate. We engaged a global network of marine turtle scientists to implement a large-scale sampling effort to assess microplastic abundance in beach sediments on marine turtle nesting beaches. Sand samples were collected from 209 sites spanning six oceans, microplastics (1-5 mm) were extracted through stacked sieves, visually identified, and a sub-sample verified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 45 % (n = 94) of beaches and within five ocean basins. Microplastic presence and abundance was found to vary markedly within and among ocean basins, with the highest proportion of contaminated beaches found in the Mediterranean (80 %). We present all data in an accessible, open access format to facilitate the extension of monitoring efforts and empower novel analytical approaches.

Original language	English
Article number	117768
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	215
Number of pages	14
ISSN	0025-326X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768
Publication status	Published - 2025

Keywords

Plastic pollution
Microplastics
Marine litter
Beach sediment
Spatial distribution
Sea turtle

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768Licence: CC BY

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Botterell, Z. L. R., Ardren, J., Dove, E., McArthur, E., Addison, D. S., Adegbile, O. M., Agamboue, P. D., Agyekumhene, A., Allman, P., Alterman, A., Anderson, A., Arenholz, T., Ariano-Sánchez, D., Arnold, Z., Báez, J. C., Bahar, A., Barbosa, C., Barrios-Garrido, H., Başkale, E., ... Godley, B. J. (2025). A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 215, Article 117768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

@article{efb4ba19bf42412e94d8e4edda3796e5,

title = "A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches",

abstract = "Sandy coastal beaches are an important nesting habitat for marine turtles and a known sink for plastic pollution. Existing methodologies for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of abundance and composition of plastic are, however, disparate. We engaged a global network of marine turtle scientists to implement a large-scale sampling effort to assess microplastic abundance in beach sediments on marine turtle nesting beaches. Sand samples were collected from 209 sites spanning six oceans, microplastics (1-5 mm) were extracted through stacked sieves, visually identified, and a sub-sample verified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 45 % (n = 94) of beaches and within five ocean basins. Microplastic presence and abundance was found to vary markedly within and among ocean basins, with the highest proportion of contaminated beaches found in the Mediterranean (80 %). We present all data in an accessible, open access format to facilitate the extension of monitoring efforts and empower novel analytical approaches.",

keywords = "Plastic pollution, Microplastics, Marine litter, Beach sediment, Spatial distribution, Sea turtle",

author = "Botterell, {Zara L.R.} and Jed Ardren and Elly Dove and Ellen McArthur and Addison, {David S.} and Adegbile, {Oyeronke M.} and Agamboue, {Pierre Didier} and Andrews Agyekumhene and Phil Allman and Alexandra Alterman and Adren Anderson and Theresa Arenholz and Daniel Ariano-S{\'a}nchez and Zephania Arnold and B{\'a}ez, {Jos{\'e} C.} and Anat Bahar and Castro Barbosa and Hector Barrios-Garrido and Eyup Ba{\c s}kale and Berumen, {Michael L.} and B{\'e}zy, {Vanessa S.} and Janice Blumenthal and {Borja Bosquirolli}, {Manuela R.} and Boyce, {Alysia J.} and Elizabeth Brammer-Robbins and Maria Branco and Brooks, {Annabelle M.L.} and Nancy Bunbury and Luis Cardona and Helen Chadwick and Giannis Chalkias and Kimberly Chug and Jessica Clark and Matthew Cole and Coppock, {Rachel L.} and Eduardo Cuevas and Dawson, {Tiffany M.} and Maria Denaro and Rodrigo Donadi and Corrine Douglas and Ryan Douglas and Emily Drobes and Chlo{\'e} Dubois and Duncan, {Emily M.} and Elston, {Chloe A.} and Nicole Esteban and Gabriela Fernandes and Ferreira-Airaud, {Maria B.} and Finn, {Sarah A.} and {Fisayo Christie}, Jerome and Angela Formia and Sabrina Fossette-Halot and Fuentes, {Mariana M.P.B.} and Galloway, {Tamara S.} and Godfrey, {Matthew H.} and Joanna Goodfellow and Vicente Guzm{\'a}n-Hern{\'a}ndez and Hart, {Catherine E.} and Hays, {Graeme C.} and Hirsch, {Sarah E.} and Sandra Hochscheid and Holloway-Adkins, {Karen G.} and Horrocks, {Julia A.} and Emi Inoguchi and Inteca, {G{\'e}lica E.} and Claire Jean and Yakup Kaska and {Koumba Mabert}, {Brice Didier} and Amandine Lambot and Yaniv Levy and Ceri Lewis and Ley-Qui{\~n}onez, {C{\'e}sar P.} and Lindeque, {Penelope K.} and Israel Llamas and Sergio Lopez-Martinez and Javier L{\'o}pez-Navas and Kelsey Mack and Madeira, {Fernando M.} and Fulvio Maffucci and Roksana Majewska and Agnese Mancini and Mansfield, {Katherine L.} and Adolfo Marco and Dimitris Margaritoulis and {Marques da Silva}, Isabel and Samir Martins and Maurer, {Andrew S.} and McFarlane, {Wendy J.} and Carmen Mej{\'i}as-Balsalobre and Montello, {Maxine A.} and Mortimer, {Jeanne A.} and Nelms, {Sarah E.} and {Nogu{\'e}s Vera}, Josep and Christelle Not and Olga Novillo-Sanjuan and {Oceguera Camacho}, Karen and Omri Omessi and Breanna Ondich and Mark Outerbridge and Nicolas Paranthoen and Jessica Pate and Pate, {S. Michelle} and Patr{\'i}cio, {Ana R.} and Odysseas Paxinos and Tami Pearl and Perrault, {Justin R.} and Picknell, {Angela S.} and Susanna Piovano and {Pococa Arellano}, {Ernesto I.} and Alwyn Ponteen and Prakash, {Shritika S.} and {Quiros Rosales}, Jairo and Vicky Rae and Raman, {Azzakirat B.A.} and Tyffen Read and Reeve-Arnold, {Katie E.} and Reina, {Richard D.} and Stefanie Reinhardt and Flavia Riberiro and Richardson, {Andrew J.} and Rivas, {Marga L.} and Dani Rob and {Roche Chaloner}, Joseph and Rogers, {Christopher E.} and Daniela Rojas-Ca{\~n}izales and Frank Rosell and Enerit Sacdanaku and {Salgado Gallegos}, {Yessica M.} and Cheryl Sanchez and {Santidri{\'a}n Tomillo}, Pilar and David Santillo and {Santos de Mora}, Denise and {Sarrouf Willson}, Ma{\"i}a and Shir Sassoon and Schultz, {Emma A.} and Felicity Shapland and Shaver, {Donna J.} and So, {Mandy W.K.} and Kelly Soluri and Guy-Philippe Sounguet and Doğan S{\"o}zbilen and Stapleton, {Seth P.} and Steen, {David A.} and Martin Stelfox and Stewart, {Kimberly M.} and Tanabe, {Lyndsey K.} and Tello-Sahagun, {Luis A.} and Jes{\'u}s Tom{\'a}s and Davinia Torreblanca and Tucker, {Anton D.} and Craig Turley and Ivon Vassileva and Sara Vieira and Villalba-Guerra, {Martha R.} and {Villase{\~n}or Casta{\~n}eda}, Gerardo and {Villase{\~n}or Llamas}, Ricardo and Matthew Ware and Weber, {Sam B.} and Lindsey West and Clemency Whittles and Whittock, {Paul A.} and Joseph Widlansky and Godley, {Brendan J.}",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768",

language = "English",

volume = "215",

journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",

issn = "0025-326X",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Botterell, ZLR, Ardren, J, Dove, E, McArthur, E, Addison, DS, Adegbile, OM, Agamboue, PD, Agyekumhene, A, Allman, P, Alterman, A, Anderson, A, Arenholz, T, Ariano-Sánchez, D, Arnold, Z, Báez, JC, Bahar, A, Barbosa, C, Barrios-Garrido, H, Başkale, E, Berumen, ML, Bézy, VS, Blumenthal, J, Borja Bosquirolli, MR, Boyce, AJ, Brammer-Robbins, E, Branco, M, Brooks, AML, Bunbury, N, Cardona, L, Chadwick, H, Chalkias, G, Chug, K, Clark, J, Cole, M, Coppock, RL, Cuevas, E, Dawson, TM, Denaro, M, Donadi, R, Douglas, C, Douglas, R, Drobes, E, Dubois, C, Duncan, EM, Elston, CA, Esteban, N, Fernandes, G, Ferreira-Airaud, MB, Finn, SA, Fisayo Christie, J, Formia, A, Fossette-Halot, S, Fuentes, MMPB, Galloway, TS, Godfrey, MH, Goodfellow, J, Guzmán-Hernández, V, Hart, CE, Hays, GC, Hirsch, SE, Hochscheid, S, Holloway-Adkins, KG, Horrocks, JA, Inoguchi, E, Inteca, GE, Jean, C, Kaska, Y, Koumba Mabert, BD, Lambot, A, Levy, Y, Lewis, C, Ley-Quiñonez, CP, Lindeque, PK, Llamas, I, Lopez-Martinez, S, López-Navas, J, Mack, K, Madeira, FM, Maffucci, F, Majewska, R, Mancini, A, Mansfield, KL, Marco, A, Margaritoulis, D, Marques da Silva, I, Martins, S, Maurer, AS, McFarlane, WJ, Mejías-Balsalobre, C, Montello, MA, Mortimer, JA, Nelms, SE, Nogués Vera, J, Not, C, Novillo-Sanjuan, O, Oceguera Camacho, K, Omessi, O, Ondich, B, Outerbridge, M, Paranthoen, N, Pate, J, Pate, SM, Patrício, AR, Paxinos, O, Pearl, T, Perrault, JR, Picknell, AS, Piovano, S, Pococa Arellano, EI, Ponteen, A, Prakash, SS, Quiros Rosales, J, Rae, V, Raman, ABA, Read, T, Reeve-Arnold, KE, Reina, RD, Reinhardt, S, Riberiro, F, Richardson, AJ, Rivas, ML, Rob, D, Roche Chaloner, J, Rogers, CE, Rojas-Cañizales, D, Rosell, F, Sacdanaku, E, Salgado Gallegos, YM, Sanchez, C, Santidrián Tomillo, P, Santillo, D, Santos de Mora, D, Sarrouf Willson, M, Sassoon, S, Schultz, EA, Shapland, F, Shaver, DJ, So, MWK, Soluri, K, Sounguet, G-P, Sözbilen, D, Stapleton, SP, Steen, DA, Stelfox, M, Stewart, KM, Tanabe, LK, Tello-Sahagun, LA, Tomás, J, Torreblanca, D, Tucker, AD, Turley, C, Vassileva, I, Vieira, S, Villalba-Guerra, MR, Villaseñor Castañeda, G, Villaseñor Llamas, R, Ware, M, Weber, SB, West, L, Whittles, C, Whittock, PA, Widlansky, J & Godley, BJ 2025, 'A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 215, 117768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

TY - JOUR

T1 - A global assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics on marine turtle nesting beaches

AU - Botterell, Zara L.R.

AU - Ardren, Jed

AU - Dove, Elly

AU - McArthur, Ellen

AU - Addison, David S.

AU - Adegbile, Oyeronke M.

AU - Agamboue, Pierre Didier

AU - Agyekumhene, Andrews

AU - Allman, Phil

AU - Alterman, Alexandra

AU - Anderson, Adren

AU - Arenholz, Theresa

AU - Ariano-Sánchez, Daniel

AU - Arnold, Zephania

AU - Báez, José C.

AU - Bahar, Anat

AU - Barbosa, Castro

AU - Barrios-Garrido, Hector

AU - Başkale, Eyup

AU - Berumen, Michael L.

AU - Bézy, Vanessa S.

AU - Blumenthal, Janice

AU - Borja Bosquirolli, Manuela R.

AU - Boyce, Alysia J.

AU - Brammer-Robbins, Elizabeth

AU - Branco, Maria

AU - Brooks, Annabelle M.L.

AU - Bunbury, Nancy

AU - Cardona, Luis

AU - Chadwick, Helen

AU - Chalkias, Giannis

AU - Chug, Kimberly

AU - Clark, Jessica

AU - Cole, Matthew

AU - Coppock, Rachel L.

AU - Cuevas, Eduardo

AU - Dawson, Tiffany M.

AU - Denaro, Maria

AU - Donadi, Rodrigo

AU - Douglas, Corrine

AU - Douglas, Ryan

AU - Drobes, Emily

AU - Dubois, Chloé

AU - Duncan, Emily M.

AU - Elston, Chloe A.

AU - Esteban, Nicole

AU - Fernandes, Gabriela

AU - Ferreira-Airaud, Maria B.

AU - Finn, Sarah A.

AU - Fisayo Christie, Jerome

AU - Formia, Angela

AU - Fossette-Halot, Sabrina

AU - Fuentes, Mariana M.P.B.

AU - Galloway, Tamara S.

AU - Godfrey, Matthew H.

AU - Goodfellow, Joanna

AU - Guzmán-Hernández, Vicente

AU - Hart, Catherine E.

AU - Hays, Graeme C.

AU - Hirsch, Sarah E.

AU - Hochscheid, Sandra

AU - Holloway-Adkins, Karen G.

AU - Horrocks, Julia A.

AU - Inoguchi, Emi

AU - Inteca, Gélica E.

AU - Jean, Claire

AU - Kaska, Yakup

AU - Koumba Mabert, Brice Didier

AU - Lambot, Amandine

AU - Levy, Yaniv

AU - Lewis, Ceri

AU - Ley-Quiñonez, César P.

AU - Lindeque, Penelope K.

AU - Llamas, Israel

AU - Lopez-Martinez, Sergio

AU - López-Navas, Javier

AU - Mack, Kelsey

AU - Madeira, Fernando M.

AU - Maffucci, Fulvio

AU - Majewska, Roksana

AU - Mancini, Agnese

AU - Mansfield, Katherine L.

AU - Marco, Adolfo

AU - Margaritoulis, Dimitris

AU - Marques da Silva, Isabel

AU - Martins, Samir

AU - Maurer, Andrew S.

AU - McFarlane, Wendy J.

AU - Mejías-Balsalobre, Carmen

AU - Montello, Maxine A.

AU - Mortimer, Jeanne A.

AU - Nelms, Sarah E.

AU - Nogués Vera, Josep

AU - Not, Christelle

AU - Novillo-Sanjuan, Olga

AU - Oceguera Camacho, Karen

AU - Omessi, Omri

AU - Ondich, Breanna

AU - Outerbridge, Mark

AU - Paranthoen, Nicolas

AU - Pate, Jessica

AU - Pate, S. Michelle

AU - Patrício, Ana R.

AU - Paxinos, Odysseas

AU - Pearl, Tami

AU - Perrault, Justin R.

AU - Picknell, Angela S.

AU - Piovano, Susanna

AU - Pococa Arellano, Ernesto I.

AU - Ponteen, Alwyn

AU - Prakash, Shritika S.

AU - Quiros Rosales, Jairo

AU - Rae, Vicky

AU - Raman, Azzakirat B.A.

AU - Read, Tyffen

AU - Reeve-Arnold, Katie E.

AU - Reina, Richard D.

AU - Reinhardt, Stefanie

AU - Riberiro, Flavia

AU - Richardson, Andrew J.

AU - Rivas, Marga L.

AU - Rob, Dani

AU - Roche Chaloner, Joseph

AU - Rogers, Christopher E.

AU - Rojas-Cañizales, Daniela

AU - Rosell, Frank

AU - Sacdanaku, Enerit

AU - Salgado Gallegos, Yessica M.

AU - Sanchez, Cheryl

AU - Santidrián Tomillo, Pilar

AU - Santillo, David

AU - Santos de Mora, Denise

AU - Sarrouf Willson, Maïa

AU - Sassoon, Shir

AU - Schultz, Emma A.

AU - Shapland, Felicity

AU - Shaver, Donna J.

AU - So, Mandy W.K.

AU - Soluri, Kelly

AU - Sounguet, Guy-Philippe

AU - Sözbilen, Doğan

AU - Stapleton, Seth P.

AU - Steen, David A.

AU - Stelfox, Martin

AU - Stewart, Kimberly M.

AU - Tanabe, Lyndsey K.

AU - Tello-Sahagun, Luis A.

AU - Tomás, Jesús

AU - Torreblanca, Davinia

AU - Tucker, Anton D.

AU - Turley, Craig

AU - Vassileva, Ivon

AU - Vieira, Sara

AU - Villalba-Guerra, Martha R.

AU - Villaseñor Castañeda, Gerardo

AU - Villaseñor Llamas, Ricardo

AU - Ware, Matthew

AU - Weber, Sam B.

AU - West, Lindsey

AU - Whittles, Clemency

AU - Whittock, Paul A.

AU - Widlansky, Joseph

AU - Godley, Brendan J.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Sandy coastal beaches are an important nesting habitat for marine turtles and a known sink for plastic pollution. Existing methodologies for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of abundance and composition of plastic are, however, disparate. We engaged a global network of marine turtle scientists to implement a large-scale sampling effort to assess microplastic abundance in beach sediments on marine turtle nesting beaches. Sand samples were collected from 209 sites spanning six oceans, microplastics (1-5 mm) were extracted through stacked sieves, visually identified, and a sub-sample verified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 45 % (n = 94) of beaches and within five ocean basins. Microplastic presence and abundance was found to vary markedly within and among ocean basins, with the highest proportion of contaminated beaches found in the Mediterranean (80 %). We present all data in an accessible, open access format to facilitate the extension of monitoring efforts and empower novel analytical approaches.

AB - Sandy coastal beaches are an important nesting habitat for marine turtles and a known sink for plastic pollution. Existing methodologies for monitoring the spatiotemporal patterns of abundance and composition of plastic are, however, disparate. We engaged a global network of marine turtle scientists to implement a large-scale sampling effort to assess microplastic abundance in beach sediments on marine turtle nesting beaches. Sand samples were collected from 209 sites spanning six oceans, microplastics (1-5 mm) were extracted through stacked sieves, visually identified, and a sub-sample verified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 45 % (n = 94) of beaches and within five ocean basins. Microplastic presence and abundance was found to vary markedly within and among ocean basins, with the highest proportion of contaminated beaches found in the Mediterranean (80 %). We present all data in an accessible, open access format to facilitate the extension of monitoring efforts and empower novel analytical approaches.

KW - Plastic pollution

KW - Microplastics

KW - Marine litter

KW - Beach sediment

KW - Spatial distribution

KW - Sea turtle

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 215

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

M1 - 117768

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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