PhD Studentship: Plastic pollution and ocean giants: Investigating the extent and impacts of plastic ingestion by marine megafauna, NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2023 Entry, PhD in Ecology and Conservation

Project Title: Plastic pollution and ocean giants: Investigating the extent and impacts of plastic ingestion by marine megafauna.

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP).  The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners:  British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,  the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

For eligible successful applicants, the studentships comprises:

• An stipend for 3.5 years (currently £17,668 p.a. for 2022-23) in line with UK Research and Innovation rates
• Payment of university tuition fees;
• A research budget of £11,000 for an international conference, lab, field and research expenses;
• A training budget of £3,250 for specialist training courses and expenses

Project Background

The widespread & pervasive nature of plastic pollution has resulted in a growing body of evidence documenting the detrimental effects of anthropogenic waste on marine organisms. Over the last two decades, the number of marine species known to be impacted by debris, the majority of which is plastic, has more than trebled. Of particular concern are the marine megafauna, namely marine mammals (e.g. cetaceans & pinnipeds), elasmobranchs (sharks & rays), and marine turtles. These large marine vertebrates play key roles in the functioning &  maintenance of marine habitats and are often considered indicators of marine ecosystem health. Many are also of conservation concern due to the plethora of anthropogenic pressures exerted on them. Plastic ingestion by marine megafauna can lead to a range of lethal and sub-lethal impacts, including intestinal blockage & internal injury, dietary dilution, malnutrition, exposure to chemical contaminants and increased vulnerability to disease. Our understanding of the fate of very small plastic particles, such as microplastics and nanoplastics, within mammalian gastrointestinal tracts, and the potential health implications, is extremely limited. 

Project Aims and Methods 

In this PhD, the student will build on previous research undertaken by the supervisory team from the University of Exeter, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme at the Institute of Zoology (IoZ)/ Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to understand the extent and potential impacts of plastic ingestion by a range of marine megafauna species, including whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, and sharks, found in UK waters.  

There is scope for the student to develop the specific objectives of the project but suggested aims include:  

• Work alongside strandings scientists and veterinary pathologists to develop a method of sampling large marine animals collected by the UK stranding networks for evidence of plastic consumption
• Characterise any plastic debris (including microplastics) within the gastrointestinal tracts of the stranded animals, with a view to identifying potential sources and informing policy
• Using data from strandings records and published research, investigate the differences in exposure to plastic-pollution among species, life-stages, and feeding-strategies/ diet
• Examine spatial patterns to assess species vulnerability by exploring the overlap between species-distributions and habitat use with hotspots of plastic pollution
• Work with the supervisory team and histopathologists at IoZ to co-develop methods for examining digestive-tract samples for the presence and fate of nanoplastics
• Investigate the link between plastic-ingestion and exposure to chemicals, such as phthalates.
• Consider the adverse health impacts of plastic-ingestion for individual animals as well as the potential population-level effects.