KUALA TERENGGANU: Has it ever crossed your minds that microplastics pollution in the ocean can interrupt turtles’ egg incubation process and resulting in the production of more female turtles?
Head of the research laboratory, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s (UMT) Institute of Oceanography and Environment Dr Mohd Uzair Rusli said it could happen if the final phase of the incubation process was affected by the presence of contaminated particles, causing the sand temperature to rise.
He said microplastics were tiny pieces of plastics which could only be seen through a microscope and may swarm the ocean from the plastic wastes being thrown by irresponsible people.
“The microplastics may affect the egg incubation temperature because it contains high heat load compared to the sand.
“The entire turtle egg incubation process is very sensitive to temperature change because it will determine the gender of the hatchlings, unlike humans who depends on parents’ chromosomes,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
Mohd Uzair explained that high temperature of more than 29.2 degree Celsius during the final phase of incubation would result in the reproduction of more female hatchlings and would cause gender imbalance to turtle population.
He explained that based on recorded data, microplastics existence were highest in beaches in northern Terengganu and lower in the south.
“The most commonly found microplastics are the black ones compared to other colours. Besides global warming, we are also worried this could affect turtle nests.
“The incubation period is normally between 50 and 70 days. Eggs will hatch faster when there is heat, but will result in more female hatchlings,” he said.
Mohd Uzair said in bracing the situation, a detailed study would be conducted by UMT’s Sea Turtle Research Unit (Seatru) and Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG) headed by Dr Abdulmaula Hamza from the Science and Environment Faculty.
The research will focus on four turtle nesting beaches in Terengganu namely Penarik Beach in Setiu; Pangkalan Atap Beach, Kuala Nerus; Rantau Abang Beach, Dungun; and Ma’Daerah Beach, Kerteh, to see the microplastics pollution patterns from north to south.
The research will be carried out later this year, using the ocean modelling application by the Institute of Oceanography and Environment. – Bernama
