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; Lyndsey K. Tanabe

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, Lyndsey K. Tanabe

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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 (US)
Article number	117768
Journal	Marine pollution bulletin
Volume	215
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768
State	Published - Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

Keywords

Beach sediment
Marine litter
Microplastics
Plastic pollution
Sea turtle
Spatial distribution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

UN SDGs

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

Access to Document

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

Cite this

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., ... Tanabe, L. K. (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{9ded5703299944c18470bef67fffa5d9,

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

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 Tanabe, \{Lyndsey K.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

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

language = "English (US)",

volume = "215",

journal = "Marine pollution bulletin",

issn = "0025-326X",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

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 & Tanabe, LK 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 - Tanabe, Lyndsey K.

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

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 - Beach sediment

KW - Marine litter

KW - Microplastics

KW - Plastic pollution

KW - Sea turtle

KW - Spatial distribution

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000428638&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117768

M3 - Article

C2 - 40117935

AN - SCOPUS:105000428638

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

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this