Publications

My research spans behavioural ecology, wildlife ecotoxicology and conservation science. Although my recent work has focused on contaminant exposure in marine wildlife, my broader interests centre on understanding how animals interact with their environments and using ecological research to address real-world conservation challenges.

Publications:

A selection of peer-reviewed publications spanning behavioural ecology, wildlife ecotoxicology and conservation science.

Wildlife Pollution & Ecotoxicology:

Microplastics accumulate in all major organs of the mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Marine Environmental Research

2025-06 | Journal article

DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107100

Authors: Leah M. Costello; Anna Zetterström; Peter Gardner; Jose Luis Crespo-Picazo; Cyrill Bussy; Ian Kane; Holly A. Shiels

Maternal transfer of microplastics and toxic heavy metals in olive ridley turtle eggs (Lepidochelys olivacea). 

Global Change Biology

Status: Under Review

Authors: Leah M. Costello;  Eric E. Flores; Wilfredo Poveda; Sasha Philbert; Ethan Hodgkinson; Aleksandr Mironov; Cyrill Bussy; Ian Kane; Holly A. Shiels

Early-life exposure and embryonic accumulation of microplastics, heavy metals and PFAS in olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Status: Submitted

Authors: Leah M. Costello and Cameron Longbottom; Eric E. Flores; Wilfredo Poveda; Katherine A. Hollywood; Marina Machidon; Cyrill  Bussy; Ian Kane; Holly A. Shiels

Evolutionary & Behavioural Ecology:

Shell shape does not accurately predict self-righting ability in hatchling freshwater turtles 

Nature, Scientific Reports

2024-02-28 | Journal article

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54191

Authors: Adam van Casteren; William I. Sellers; Dane A. Crossley II; Leah M. Costello; Jonathan R. Codd

Absence of atrial smooth muscle in the heart of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta): a re-evaluation of its role in diving physiology

Journal of Experimental Biology

2022-10-15 | Journal article

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244864

Authors: Leah M. Costello; Daniel García-Párraga; Jose Luis Crespo-Picazo; Jonathan R. Codd; Holly A. Shiels; William Joyce

Beetle iridescence induces an avoidance response in naïve avian predators

Animal Behaviour

2022-06 | Journal article

DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.04.005

Authors: Karin Kjernsmo; Anna M. Lim; Rox Middleton; Joanna R. Hall; Leah M. Costello; Heather M. Whitney; Nicholas E. Scott-Samuel; Innes C. Cuthill

False holes as camouflage

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

2020-03-11 | Journal article

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0126

Authors: Leah M. Costello; Nicholas E. Scott-Samuel; Karin Kjernsmo; Innes C. Cuthill

Collaborations: