Resumen

Assessment of the impact of macroplastics and microplastics on sea turtle nesting areas in San Jacinto - Manabí. RCTU [online]. 2025, vol.12, n.2, pp.1-14. ISSN 1390-7697.  https://doi.org/10.26423/7aysk556.

The accumulation of plastic waste in nesting areas compromises the reproductive success of sea turtles by altering thermal and substrate conditions. This study evaluated this impact on San Jacinto Beach (Manabí, Ecuador) using a mixed design and stratified sampling in five sections. Macro- and microplastics were collected in 75 quadrants, and reproductive data of Lepidochelys olivacea corresponding to 28 nests were obtained from the Sea Turtle Nesting Monitoring Project in the Coastal Area of ​​Portoviejo and Sucre. Microplastics were removed by sieving and flotation. A total of 143 macroplastics were identified, predominantly bags (34%) and nets (22%), with critical accumulation in quadrant 4 (42%). A total of 672 microplastic particles were recovered, 96.6% in the first 5 cm. At 40 cm, a positive trade-off was observed in hatching (ρ = 0.42; p = 0.038) and emergence (ρ = 0.40; p = 0.047) rates. In conclusion, plastic distribution reflects persistent anthropogenic pressure and differential effects on the nest microenvironment, highlighting the need to strengthen coastal management strategies, community environmental education, and further research to clarify the mechanisms of interaction between plastics and sea turtle reproductive success.

Palabras clave : Environmental education; Reproductive success; Coastal microhabitat..