Assessing microplastics contamination in unviable loggerhead sea turtle eggs.

Sea turtles, in comparison with marine mammals, sea birds, and fishes, are the most affected by microplastics in terms of number of individuals impacted and concentration within each organism. The ubiquitous nature and persistence of microplastics in the environment further compromises sea turtles as many species are currently vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. The objective of this study was to quantify microplastic contamination in unviable loggerhead sea turtle eggs (Caretta caretta).

Microplastics in sandy environments in the Florida Keys and the panhandle of Florida, and the ingestion by sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) and sand dollars (Echinodermata: Echinoidea).

Microplastic pollution is an increasing problem in the marine environment. This study had three objectives: 1) determine if seagrass beds and adjacent sand flats in the Florida Keys differed in microplastics concentration, 2) determine if sea cucumbers from the Florida Keys and sand dollars from the panhandle of Florida contain microplastics, and 3) conduct a laboratory experiment on the sand dollar Mellita tenuis to determine if it will ingest plastic microbeads contained in sediment. Both seagrass beds and sand flats in the Florida Keys contained microplastics.

Color development time of the Lowry protein assay.

Color development of the Lowry protein assay was tracked over time for bovine serum albumin (BSA) concentrations ranging from 40 to 600 microg/ml. The time interval between 2 and 4h produced the most stable readings. This time frame also improved linearity of the standard curve.