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Presentation Type
Presentation
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Eric Rosch, Marine Science
Major
Marine Science
Presentation Abstract
Sunscreen is a significant source of metals and inorganic nutrients to coastal waters. This presents potential hazards for marine ecology as both organic and inorganic chemical UV filters incorporated in the formulation of sunscreens are being added to seawater, disrupting the naturally occurring balance in our waterways. This study aims to evaluate the presence of sunscreen particles on the lifespan of Palaemonetes pugio. Varying amounts of sunscreen were dissolved in vented glassware containing seawater. Individual shrimp were placed in glassware and the average time of death was recorded. Experimentation showed that the average time of death decreased with increasing mass concentration of sunscreen. As time increased, the color of the shrimp's body transformed from clear to white, suggesting higher concentrations in absorption of the sunscreen inside the organism. Their vulnerability is a cause for concern since this species is instrumental in transporting energy and nutrients between various estuarine trophic levels.
Location
Virtual Session Room 2
Start Date
22-4-2021 3:00 PM
End Date
22-4-2021 3:20 PM
Recommended Citation
Kladler, Allison, "The effect of sunscreen on the life expectancy of Palaemonetes pugio" (2021). Undergraduate Research Competition. 26.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2021/fullconference/26
The effect of sunscreen on the life expectancy of Palaemonetes pugio
Virtual Session Room 2
Sunscreen is a significant source of metals and inorganic nutrients to coastal waters. This presents potential hazards for marine ecology as both organic and inorganic chemical UV filters incorporated in the formulation of sunscreens are being added to seawater, disrupting the naturally occurring balance in our waterways. This study aims to evaluate the presence of sunscreen particles on the lifespan of Palaemonetes pugio. Varying amounts of sunscreen were dissolved in vented glassware containing seawater. Individual shrimp were placed in glassware and the average time of death was recorded. Experimentation showed that the average time of death decreased with increasing mass concentration of sunscreen. As time increased, the color of the shrimp's body transformed from clear to white, suggesting higher concentrations in absorption of the sunscreen inside the organism. Their vulnerability is a cause for concern since this species is instrumental in transporting energy and nutrients between various estuarine trophic levels.