Member Seminar: Microplastics and Ohio Wildlife: Knowns, Unknowns and Potential Impacts for the Wildlife Rehab Community

Title: Microplastics and Ohio Wildlife: Knowns, Unknowns and Potential Impacts for the Wildlife Rehab Community

Presenter: Beaux Berkeley

Description: There is growing evidence worldwide that microplastics (MPs) have an impact on terrestrial and freshwater organisms that facilitate critical ecosystem functions. Microplastics are pervasive across these systems, yet we lack thresholds, criteria, and regulations to mitigate risk to wildlife and human populations. Wildlife Rehabilitators can provide significant frontline information to help us understand the impacts of microplastics on wildlife.  In this talk, we will explore what microplastics are, how they impact wildlife, and opportunities to get involved in monitoring microplastics in Ohio wildlife.  Following the talk, we will discuss how we as a community can reduce the use and impact of plastics in our rehabilitation practices.

Biography: Elizabeth (Beaux) Berkeley, PhD is a wildlife endocrinologist and physiologist with over 30 years of experience conducting research and teaching about wildlife issues worldwide.  Beaux is currently leading…