Raquel Valdes

Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Area of Concentration

Marine Science

Abstract

Marine debris can consist of almost any anthropogenic item, which makes its presence in the environment a threat. In this study, the different types, abundances, and distributions of marine debris on a seasonal basis at both Lido Beach and Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida were examined. A total of 11,143 pieces of debris were collected from both beaches over all four seasons. While there were no distinct seasonal differences, the Summer season had the largest collection of marine debris (Lido: 2,252 items / Siesta: 3,465 items), while the Spring season had the smallest collection (Lido: 709 items / Siesta: 728 items). Additionally, GIS Analysis was incorporated to give a spatial representation of the debris distribution. The outcome of these maps suggests that, on average, the most amount of debris was found at the dune line, while the least amount was found at the shoreline.

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