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.
