Ethan Clarke
Sea turtles are one of the oldest living creatures on Earth, with origins dating back to when dinosaurs roamed the planet. However, their existence is now threatened by plastic pollution. Marine debris, including plastic bags, bottles, and discarded fishing gear, poses a significant risk to sea turtles, who often mistake plastic for food or become entangled in it. Ingesting plastic can lead to blockages and digestive issues, while entanglement can hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, sometimes resulting in drowning. With an estimated 11-13 million metric tons of plastic entering the oceans annually, plastic pollution is a pressing issue that endangers sea turtles and requires urgent action to reduce plastic production and improve waste management.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingestion | Sea turtles ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. |
| Entanglement | Sea turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting. This can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and, in severe cases, lead to drowning and death. |
| Marine debris | Common items include cigarette butts, cans, plastic bags, bottles, styrofoam, balloons, lighters, and toothbrushes. |
| Microplastics | Bite-size microplastics are more likely to be eaten by marine animals and can spread across food chains and ecosystems. |
| Environmental and health problems | Plastic chemicals cause numerous and serious health problems in sea turtles, including hormone-disrupting effects that can feminize populations, infertility, and the development of harmful tumors. |
| Impact on nesting | Mother sea turtles are forced to dig their nests and lay their eggs on beaches covered by plastic pollution, impacting the sex of the hatchlings. |
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What You'll Learn
Ingestion of plastic
Sea turtles ingest plastic in two main ways. Firstly, they may mistake plastic for their natural food, such as a plastic bag for a jellyfish. Secondly, they may accidentally eat plastic that is present among their natural food, such as a plastic straw on the seafloor among crustaceans. Sea turtles are also attracted to the way marine plastics smell, likely due to the organisms that latch on to plastic debris in the ocean.
Research shows that plastic ingestion varies along sea turtles' life stages. Early-stage juvenile loggerheads are often found drifting in oceanic gyres and encounter large quantities of accumulated debris. Late-stage juveniles and adult loggerheads switch to coastal waters but may also migrate to oceanic zones for breeding. They improve their benthic foraging capacity and may dive into benthic habitats for feeding.
Plastic ingestion has been reported for all seven species of sea turtles, albeit with inter-species variation in the quantity and type of plastic ingested due to differences in habitats and feeding preferences. In a study of stranded loggerhead turtles along the Greek coastline, 72% were found to have ingested plastic, with an average of 7.94 plastic items per turtle.
The ingestion of plastic can cause physical damage to sea turtles' intestines, lead to intestinal blockages, and cause internal bleeding. It can also trick turtles into feeling full, causing them to neglect seeking out food and ultimately starving to death. Sharp plastics can also rupture internal organs.
The risks of ingesting plastic may be especially significant for young sea turtles. This is because they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, where they live in flotsam and eat other organisms that float with the currents. Plastic waste is also transported by ocean currents, leading to a convergence that puts young turtles at higher risk of ingesting plastic.
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Entanglement in plastic
Sea turtles are highly vulnerable to entanglement in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, also known as "ghost nets" or "ghost gear", or other debris. This can occur while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting. Entanglement in plastic can cause injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and even lead to drowning and death. It is estimated that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, which averages more than one turtle death every nine hours.
Young sea turtles are particularly at risk of entanglement. This is because, during their early years, they float with ocean currents and live among flotsam, such as brown algae, where they feed on other organisms carried by the currents. Unfortunately, plastic waste is also transported by these same ocean currents, increasing the likelihood of entanglement for young turtles.
The buildup of plastic waste in the oceans poses a significant threat to sea turtles. It is estimated that between 5 and 13 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually, with plastic debris spanning an estimated 5 million square miles. Eighty percent of this plastic debris originates from landfills and other land-based sources, eventually making its way into the oceans through rivers and streams.
The presence of plastic waste in the oceans is a growing concern for sea turtles, as they frequently become entangled in it. Additionally, plastic waste can break down into smaller microplastics, which are more easily ingested by sea turtles and can lead to health complications. The ingestion of plastic has been linked to a higher risk of premature death in sea turtles, with a one-in-five chance of death from ingesting just one piece of plastic.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is not limited to entanglement and ingestion but also extends to their reproductive success. Sea turtle populations are experiencing feminization due to the presence of microplastics, which raise the temperature of the sand on beaches. This, coupled with climate change, has resulted in an overwhelming majority of female hatchlings on the Great Barrier Reef, with 99% of sea turtle hatchlings being female. This feminization of the species poses a significant survival risk.
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Attraction to plastic odours
Sea turtles are highly attracted to the odour of plastics, which poses a significant threat to their survival. They are naturally drawn to the scent of food, and plastics can mimic these enticing odours, luring turtles towards them. This attraction is so strong that turtles will keep their noses out of the water for longer than usual to get a good smell of the plastics.
One of the key dangers of plastic ingestion by sea turtles is the blocking of their digestive systems, which can lead to death. Plastic debris in the ocean, such as bags, straws, and balloons, can resemble jellyfish or other natural food sources for sea turtles, leading to accidental consumption. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that plastics do not biodegrade and can persist in the environment indefinitely, breaking down into microplastics that are easily ingested by marine life.
The odour of plastics is not the only factor that entices sea turtles. The decomposition of plastics can release chemicals that are harmful to sea turtles, causing health issues such as hormone disruption and infertility. Additionally, the presence of bacteria and other organisms growing on plastic debris can make it even more appealing to sea turtles as a potential food source.
Young sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to the allure of plastic odours. During their early years, they float with ocean currents and feed on other organisms that drift alongside them. Unfortunately, plastic waste is also transported by these same currents, increasing the likelihood of young turtles encountering and ingesting plastic debris.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is not limited to physical entanglement or ingestion. Microplastics have been found to raise the temperature of the sand on beaches, contributing to the feminization of sea turtle populations. This effect is particularly pronounced on the Great Barrier Reef, where 99% of sea turtle hatchlings are now born female. Without intervention, the total feminization of the species is a real and concerning possibility.
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Impact on hatchlings
Sea turtles are impacted by plastic pollution in numerous ways, and this is no different for hatchlings. Even before they reach the water, newly hatched sea turtles must navigate through piles of microplastics and plastic items just to make it from the nest to the sea. Mother sea turtles are forced to dig their nests and lay their eggs on beaches that are increasingly covered by plastic pollution.
Young sea turtles are especially vulnerable to ingesting plastic because they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, eating other organisms that float with the currents. Plastic waste is also transported by ocean currents, leading to an unfortunate convergence that puts young turtles at higher risk of ingestion. Juvenile green turtles are heavily affected by marine debris.
Hatchlings are also at risk of entanglement in plastic waste, which can hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed. Entanglement can also lead to injuries, drowning, and death.
The dangers of plastic to sea turtle hatchlings are twofold. Firstly, plastic waste can physically entrap turtles, hindering their movement and ability to reach food and air. Secondly, the chemicals in plastics can cause serious health problems, including hormone disruption and infertility. These issues can lead to the feminization of sea turtle populations, which poses a major survival risk.
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Feminisation of populations
The feminization of sea turtle populations is a significant concern, with climate change posing a critical challenge to species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Sea turtles are among the species impacted by this phenomenon, as warmer incubation temperatures result in the production of female hatchlings.
Research has revealed that sea turtles originating from warmer nesting beaches exhibit an extreme female bias. For instance, in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), turtles from the northern nesting beaches displayed a significant female bias, with 99.1% of juveniles, 99.8% of subadults, and 86.8% of adult-sized turtles being female. This trend has persisted for over two decades, indicating the possibility of complete feminization in the near future.
The impact of temperature on the sex determination of sea turtles has significant implications for conservation efforts. Beaches near the limits of sea turtle nesting ranges tend to be cooler and, therefore, play a crucial role in species preservation. These beaches contribute a higher proportion of males to regional breeding grounds, ensuring the long-term survival of the species.
While a higher number of females may lead to short-term population growth through increased egg production, the scarcity of males for mating can become a concern in the long term. Additionally, reduced survival rates during the early life stages of turtles can further impact population dynamics.
The feminization of sea turtle populations is a complex issue that highlights the delicate balance between environmental factors and the survival of species. Conservation efforts must address these challenges to ensure the long-term viability of sea turtle populations.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic affects sea turtles in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement.
Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as mistaking a plastic bag for a jellyfish. They can also accidentally eat plastic that is present among their natural food, such as a plastic straw. Ingestion causes blockages within their digestive system and can lead to death.
Sea turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting. Entanglement can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and in severe cases, cause drowning and death.
Plastic chemicals cause numerous health problems in sea turtles, including hormone-disrupting effects that can feminize sea turtle populations and cause infertility. Plastic ingestion is also associated with the development of harmful tumors in sea turtles.
We can reduce plastic pollution by refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing, and recycling plastic products. It is important to avoid using disposable plastics, personal care products containing microbeads, and releasing balloons into the air. Additionally, participating in beach clean-up events and properly securing and disposing of trash can help reduce the amount of plastic waste that enters the ocean and endangers sea turtles.
