Current projects
Ecological risk assessment for plastic pollution​
Macroplastics interactions have been reported in over 1300 species, yet species level effects are poorly understood, and ecological benefits of interventions are hard to quantify. I am using risk assessment approaches to assess the vulnerability of marine biota to macroplastic and the benefits of debris removal.
Sustainable materials management
Managing plastic poses unique challenges in remote island communities. Currently, I am collaborating with partners in Hawaii and American Samoa to support the implementation of place-based solutions to help address plastic pollution and its social-ecological consequences.
Social costs of plastic pollution
Ocean plastic pollution has social costs that are not captured in the private cost of plastic products, and harm communities around the globe. I am co-chairing an NCEAS working group that is developing a framework for quantifying the social cost of plastic pollution, and testing it using policy-relevant case studies.
Marine pollution in coastal zones​
Nutrient pollution poses a threat to coastal ecosystems, yet the effects of nutrient enrichment depend on nutrient concentrations, ratios, and forms. I am currently conducting research on how nutrient inputs, along with baseline oceanic conditions, affect the health of coral reef ecosystems.
Past projects
Market-based instruments for fisheries
In partnership with Conservation International and the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, we evaluated how well market-based instruments for fisheries protect marine ecosystem health and ecosystem services.
Estimating the cost of interventions
We developed a standardized method for evaluating the total cost of plastic pollution interventions. Moving forward, we will work with decision-makers to apply our framework to estimate intervention costs in various socio-economic and geopolitical contexts.
Impacts of plastic policy
We evaluated the environmental and social impacts associated with different plastic pollution intervention on the UN sustainable development goals, and explored how the context of implementation can influence these impacts.
Pesticide risk for ESA species
We evaluated the benefits of high resolution pesticide usage data for improving the accuracy and efficiency of the EPA pesticide registration and review process for species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Publications​
*Indicates advising author
​ ​
Murphy, E. L., Baechler, B. R., Roman, L., Leonard, G. H., Mallos, N. J., Santos, R. Rochman, C. M. (2025). How much is too much?: A quantitative risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
​
Jung, J., Duprey, N. N., Foreman, A. D., D’Olivo, J. P., Pellio, C., Ryu, Y., Murphy E. L., et al. (2025). Equatorial upwelling of phosphorus drives Atlantic N2 fixation and Sargassum blooms. Nature Geoscience.
​
Marhoon, A., Murphy, E. L., Høiberg, M. A., Borgelt, J., Dorber, M., Verones, F. (2025). An Effect Factor for Macro- and Microplastic Ingestion Impacts on Marine Ecosystems for Use in Life Cycle Assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin.
​
Jung, J., Ardisana, R., Vermeij, M. J. A., Murphy, E. L.* (2025). Physiological consequences of nitrogen enrichment for corals in the Caribbean. Royal Society Open Science.
​
Eikenberry, S. E., Iacona, G., Murphy, E. L., Watson, G., Gerber, L. R. (2024). Identifying opportunities for high resolution pesticide usage data to improve the efficiency of endangered species pesticide risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment.
​
Murphy, E. L., Gerber, L. R., Rochman, C., Polidoro, B. (2024). A macroplastic vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai‘i. Science of the Total Environment.
​
Murphy, E. L., Fredette-Roman, C., Rochman, C., Gerber, L. R., Polidoro, B. (2023). A multi-taxonomic, trait-based framework for assessing macroplastic vulnerability. Science of the Total Environment.
​
Murphy, E. L., Polidoro, B., & Gerber, L. (2023). The plastic-scape: Applying seascape ecology to marine plastic pollution. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2119.
​
Murphy, E. L., Iacona, G., Bernard, M., Barnes, M., McGivern, A., & Gerber, L. R. (2022). A decision framework for estimating the cost of marine plastic pollution interventions. Conservation Biology.
​
Helm, L., Murphy, E. L., McGivern, A., Borrelle, S. B. (2022) Impacts of plastic waste management strategies. Environmental Reviews.
​
Murphy, E. L., Eikenberry, S., Iacona, G, Watson, G, & Gerber, L. R. (2021) The value of increased spatial resolution of pesticide usage data for assessing risk to endangered species. Conservation Science and Practice.
​
Murphy, E. L., Bernard, M., Gerber, L. R., & K. Dooley. (2021) Evaluating the role of market-based instruments in protecting marine ecosystem services in wild-caught fisheries. Ecosystem services.
​
Kittinger, J., Bernard, M., Finkbeiner, E., Murphy, E., Obregon, P. Klinger, D. H., Schoon, M. L., Dooley, K. J., & Gerber, L. R. (2021) Applying a jurisdictional approach to support sustainable seafood. Conservation Science and Practice.
​
Cramer, K. L., Bernard, M. L., Bernat, I., Gutierrez, L., Murphy, E. L., Sangolquí, P, Surrey, K., Gerber, L. R. (2021). The present and future status of ecosystem services for coral reef. Imperiled: the Encyclopedia of Conservation.
​
Murphy, E. L., Bernard, M., Helm, L., Hill, I & Tunas-Corzon, A. (2020) Policy Recommendations to reinvigorate recycling in Arizona. The Journal of Science Policy & Governance.
​
Borrelle, S. B., Ringma, J., Law, K. L., Mannahan, C. C., Lebreton, L., McGivern, A., Murphy E., ... M., & Rockman C. M. (2020) Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution. Science.
​
Fredette-Roman, C., Rolsky, C., Polidoro, B., Murphy, E. L. (In review) A global ranking of the relative vulnerability of marine mammals to macroplastic entanglement and ingestion. Conservation Biology.
​​
Presentations
Murphy, E. L., The social cost of plastic pollution. PICES. Yokohama, Japan. 2025.
\
Murphy, E. L., Baechler, B. R., Roman, L., Santos, R., Leonard, G., Mallos, N., Rochman, C. A risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds. Pacific Seabird Group. San Jose, Costa Rica. 2025.
​
Murphy, E. L., Baechler, B. R., Roman, L., Santos, R., Leonard, G., Mallos, N., Rochman, C. Recent advances in macroplastic risk assessments. PICES. Honolulu, Hawaii. 2024.
​
Murphy, E. L., Baechler, B. R., Roman, L., Santos, R., Leonard, G., Mallos, N., Rochman, C. Quantitative assessment of mortality due to ingested macroplastics in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. International Marine Conservation Congress. Cape Town, South Africa. 2024.
​
Murphy, E. L., Baechler, B. R., Roman, L., Santos, R., Leonard, G., Mallos, N., Rochman, C Macroplastic risk assessment and monitoring methods. Canadian Plastic Action Zone side event at the UNEP Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution Fourth Session. Ottawa, Canada. 2024.
​
Murphy, E. L., Macroplastic risk assessment and monitoring methods. UN Plastic Pollution Working Group of Latin America and the Caribbean. Virtual. 2024
​
Murphy, E. L., Key Drivers and Challenges in Developing and Implementing MSW Recycling Programs. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Information Gathering Session for Costs and Approaches for Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Programs. Virtual. 2024.
​
Murphy, E. L., Baechler, B. R., Roman, L., Santos, R., Leonard, G., Mallos, N., Rochman, C. Linking meso and macroplastic ingestion to likelihood of mortality in turtles, mammals, and birds. Ocean Sciences Meeting. New Orleans, LA. 2024.
​
Murphy, E. L., Fredette-Roman, C., Polidoro, B. A relative trait-based vulnerability ranking of the world’s marine mammals to plastic ingestion and entanglement. International Marine Debris Conference. Bhusan, South Korea. 2022.
​
Murphy, E. L., Fredette-Roman, C., Rochman, C., Gerber, L. R., Polidoro, B. Ranking the relative vulnerability of Hawai’ian Species to marine macroplastic. North American Congress for Conservation Biology. Reno, NV. 2022.
​
Murphy, E. L., Fredette-Roman, C., Rochman, C., Gerber, L., Polidoro, B. Assessing the relative vulnerability of marine biodiversity to macroplastic. ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting. Honolulu, HI. 2022.
​
Ahumada, J., Cheng, S., Murphy, E. L. Interactive tools can drive evidence-informed decisions in conservation: insights from camera trap surveys in the Amazon. Association for tropical biology and conservation. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. 2022.
​
Murphy, E. L., Eikenberry, S., Iacona, G., Watson, G. The value of increased spatial resolution of pesticide usage data for assessing risk to endangered species. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry annual conference. Portland, OR. 2021.
Murphy, E. L., Bernard, M., Iacona, G., Borrelle, S. B., Barnes, M., McGivern, A., Emmanuel, J., Gerber, L. R. A decision framework for estimating the cost of marine plastic pollution intervention. Society for Conservation Biology’s Emerging Issues in Conservation Seminar. Virtual. 2021.
Murphy, E. L., Bernard, M., Gerber, L., Dooley, K. Evaluating the role of market-based instruments in protecting marine ecosystem services in wild-caught fisheries. North American Congress for Conservation Biology. Denver, Colorado. 2020.
​
Barnes, M., Iacona, G., Bernard, M., Gerber, L., Murphy, E. L. Costs of mitigating marine plastic pollution: a decision support tool. International Congress for Conservation Biology., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2019.
Watts-Fitzgerald, K., Murphy, E. L. EPA’s Vessel Sewage Program. SOBA Annual Conference. Anchorage, AK. 2017.
​
Grant, J., Braithwaite, M., Dvorak, M., Murphy, E. L. Juvenile Justice. 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) 2016 Summer Institute. Phoenix, AZ. 2016.
​
Posters
Jung, J., Murphy, E. L. A Nitrogen Isotope Assisted View of Nutrient Dynamics in the Caribbean Sea during the Anthropocene. Reef Futures. Riviera Maya, Mexico. 2024.​
​
Murphy, E. L., Borrelle, S., Kittinger, J., Gerber, L. R. Engaging stakeholders in identifying scenarios to mitigate marine plastic pollution in Hawai’i. American Geophysical Union. Chicago, IL. 2022.
​
Murphy, E., Iacona, G., Bernard, M., Barnes, M., McGivern, A., Gerber, L. Costs to reduce plastic pollution. Institute for Social Science Research Poster Contest. Tempe, AZ. 2020.
​
Murphy, E., Barnes, M., Iacona, G., Bernard, M., Gerber, L., McGivern, A., Borrelle, S. The cost of mitigating marine plastic pollution. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry annual conference. Toronto, Canada. 2019.
​
Murphy, E., Sivaguru, M., Fouke, F. W. Physiological Response of the Caribbean Coral O. annularis to Pollution Gradients. Midwest Geobiology Conference. 2014.
​
Murphy, E., M. Sivaguru, B. W. Fouke. Physiological Response of the Caribbean Coral O. annularis to Pollution Gradients. American Geophysical Union. 2014.
​
Media
​​
Authored.
Murphy, E., Helm, L. 2021. Lawmakers raided funds meant for recycling, raising fees, or scaling back programs. AZ Central.
azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/03/arizona-lawmakers-consider-plan-to-fund-plastic-to-fuel-plants/70147952007/
Murphy, E. L., Bernard, M., Hill, I., Tunas-Corzon, A., Helm, L. 2020. Arizona should take steps to reinvigorate recycling. Arizona Capitol Times.
azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/12/04/arizona-should-take-steps-to-reinvigorate-recycling/
Interviewed.
Hawkinson, K. 2025. Charging for plastic shopping bags can actually lead to cleaner beaches, study shows. The Independent.
independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/plastic-bag-ban-study-clean-beaches-litter-b2774245.html
Hailstone, J. 2025. Plastic bag bans and fees can reduce shoreline litter study finds. Forbes.
forbes.com/sites/jamiehailstone/2025/06/27/plastic-bag-bans-and-fees-can-reduce-shoreline-litter-study-finds/
Owen, R. 2025. Policy Success: Fees and Bans on Plastic Bags Reduce Beach Trash. EOS.
eos.org/articles/policy-success-fees-and-bans-on-plastic-bags-reduce-beach-trash
Kelso, C. 2025. Banning Plastic Bags Works to Limit Shoreline Litter, Study Finds. NYTimes.
nytimes.com/2025/06/19/climate/plastic-bag-bans-litter.html
Holcombe, M. 2025. Plastic shopping bag policies are actually working, a new study suggests. CNN.
edition.cnn.com/2025/06/19/business/plastic-bag-policies-pollution-wellness
Chiu, A. 2025. Plastic bag fees and bans help protect beaches and riverbanks, study finds. Washington Post. Link.
washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/06/19/plastic-bag-fee-ban-litter-pollution/
Migoya, C. 2023. Arizona lawmakers want to restore recycling fund. But environmentalists fear one addition. AZ Central.
azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/03/arizona-lawmakers-consider-plan-to-fund-plastic-to-fuel-plants/70147952007/
Bankston, A., Murphy, E. L., Fleming, H.K, Zolyniak, A. 2020. Wellness Privacy, Recycling, & Commercialization of the Arctic [SciPolSoundBites - S3 |
E6. Journal of Science Policy and Governance. youtube.com/watch?v=7vBIGQ2VPIs
Gerbis, N. 2020. Study: Massive Global Effort Needed to Reduce Plastic Pollution By 2030. NPR KJZZ.
Fronterasdesk.org/content/1621612/study-massive-global-effort-needed-reduce-plastic-pollution-2030