A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Marine Plastics Abatement

Research studies project report (M.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2021

This study was design to find out the impact of microplastic on soil temperature in sandy beaches, with the objective of to study the possible impact of microplastic in the sandy beach ecosystem and on the turtles. Experiment was conducted in three segments, at first soil temperature at 10 cm depth in the beach and ambient temperature were recorded, secondly experiment trial was arranged using the beach sand collected from same beach and thirdly desk study was conducted to study the impacts of microplastic pollution in the process of temperature sex determination in turtles during the egg hatching. Soils are a major component of every ecosystem and most of them are under the threat of pollution. Soil contamination with MP and potential impact on soil microorganisms and their function is increasingly recorded from the several parts of the world. MP contamination may be a significant threat to soil biota if they change their habitat properties. There are several studies that has done to identify the MP levels in the sandy beaches, but studies on the effects of such contaminants on the properties which potentially impact the soil biota are lacking. This study is an attempt to fill this research gap and make primary research base on the discipline. According to the results black colour plastic shows the highest impact on soil temperature increase compare with the transparent colour and white colour and the increase in soil temperature also high in the afternoon to night hours where morning hours have indicated reduction in soil temperature comparative to the control. Even though that the results are not providing enough statistical evidence to state the level of impact plastic creates on the parameter of soil temperature, the later three treatments have provided clear tendency of the temperature alteration. Therefore, the study suggests more in-depth research needs in the fact, since soil temperature is an important factor which has role play beyond the egg hatching of turtles to find the magnitude of the ecosystem impact of plastic.