Student Research Reports
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Influence of plastic on the warming of sand
Organization(s):XV. gimnazija
Country:Croatia
Student(s):Mia Bacalja, Andrea Brzica, Tia Gebauer, Jakov Lušo
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Teacher:Mihaela Marceljak Ilic
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Soil Infiltration, Soil pH
Presentation Poster:
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Optional Badges:I am a Data Scientist, I am an Engineer, I make an Impact
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:03/06/2024
The aim of this research is to discover if microplastics in and on the sand impact its temperature and to apply that to the theoretical ratio of newborn male and female turtles (Trachemysscripta elegans) which gender is determined by the sand temperature in which the eggs are incubated. The project was conducted during a two-week period during which the temperature changes on 3 different sand bases were measured: plain sand, sand with a microplastic mixture and sand with a microplastic mixture and plastic pieces on top of it. The sand was heated using bulbs with IR and UV radiation and the temperature was kept between 28,4°C and 28,8°C, a temperature interval in which only male individuals of Trachemysscripta elegans hatch, using thermometers that were buried in the sand. The average temperature of sand with microplastics in and on it was 0,5°C higher than the average temperature of plain sand. That rise in temperature passes the temperature interval in which only male individuals are hatched and moves into the interval in which male and female individuals are born in the same ratio.