 Honours student
Thesis
Digestibility of biodegradable plastic in the Brisbane River short-neck turtle Emydura macquarii signata, and the endangered loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta.
(Supervisors: Lanyon & Limpus)
Entanglement and ingestion of plastic debris result in mortalities of threatened species, including sea turtles. New 'biodegradable' plastic film and polystyrene products have recently been developed, utilising a combination of polyester and starch. This project examined the 'biodegradability' of new technology plastic products during passage through the digestive tracts of two turtle species, the endangered loggerhead, Caretta caretta, and the Brisbane River short-neck turtle, Emydura macquarii signata. Breakdown of plastics during transit through the gut was assessed in terms of changes in chemical composition and physical elastic parameters including tensile strength.
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