DEMETRIADES
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Microplastic Prevalence in Cold-Water Coral

photo by Penny
In the Herrera lab at Lehigh University, I conducted independent research on the prevalence, distribution, and composition of microplastics in cold-water corals in the Gulf of Mexico. This project attempted to better understand the dynamics of plastic pollution in the Gulf and the implications of anthropogenic activities on marine organisms.​ The results from my work indicate that microplastics (especially polyethylene) are prevalent in and bioavailable to cold-water ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico. 

view thesis
view poster
View Literature Review
view proposal

Experiment set-up
Coral branch in lab
Sections of corals in formic acid for decalcification
Swiftia polyp at 20x magnification
Poster presentation
Microplastic particle found in coral
Segment of preserved Swiftia
Gulf of Mexico
Coral samples preserved in ethanol
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  • About
  • MST
  • Host-Parasite
  • Microplastics
  • e DNA
  • Phages
  • skills