Biological Sciences: Marine Biology - MS
Email address: hmm1031@wildcats.unh.edu
Advisor: Dr. Greg Moore; advisor's website
My research is focused on assessing surface-water microplastics in the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary located in southern New Hampshire. Microplastics, defined as small plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, are an emerging environmental concern. Their presence poses threats to environmental and human health due to their pervasive and persistent nature and their association with persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals. With the majority of marine microplastics originating from land-based sources, coastal habitats situated at the intersection of terrestrial and aquatic environments, are critical ecosystems of concern. My research aims to explore the role that coastal flooding events have in transporting microplastics into estuarine systems. With increasing sea levels and more frequent coastal flooding events due to climate change, understanding the role that these events play in microplastic transport is critical to long-term management.
