Sea turtles already struggled to survive before plastic debris showed up in their ocean habitats. On top of dodging predators from the minute they hatch, turtles now confuse bags and bottle caps for food — an attraction that often turns out to be fatal.
Biologists previously believed sea turtles swallowed plastic because it looks and moves like jellyfish or other nutritious snacks. New research suggests that the scent of bacteria and other microorganisms growing on ocean debris might lure turtles in, too. In other words: If it looks like food and smells like food, then turtles probably think it is food.
And if plastic trash collects in the ocean and releases enticing odors en masse, the overwhelming scent might be enough to lure in turtles from a distance, the authors suggest in their Current Biology report, published Monday. The deceiving smell could turn one of the turtle’s survival skills — ...
