Global Characterization of Sea Turtle Ecological Traps under Compound Marine Heatwaves and Microplastics

The concurrent intensification of marine heatwaves (MHW) and microplastics (MPs) pollution presents a complex challenge for environmental risk assessment in the Anthropocene. However, the mechanisms governing organismal responses to these compound perturbations remain poorly resolved, often obscured by linear assumptions. Here, we integrate global tracking data from seven sea turtle species with high-resolution oceanographic reanalysis to spatially characterize the ecological traps influenced by these dual stressors. Our analytical framework employs an individual-based causal voting method and the Eco-Transformer model to disentangle true biological stress responses from natural behavioral variability. We observe that sea turtles exhibit significantly prolonged residence times within regions of moderate to high MPs concentrations, creating an apparent "safe harbor" effect. In these pollution convergence zones, the natural avoidance movements typically triggered by thermal stress are notably disrupted. Consequently, this behavioral shift extends the duration of their exposure to the concurrent pressures of MHW and MPs-associated stress. These empirical findings demonstrate that pollutant-associated behavioral modifications can increase the retention of sea turtles in regions of compounded environmental stress. These results underscore the limitations of static conservation models and highlight the urgent need for dynamic management strategies that account for compound climate-pollution interactions.