Descripción del proyecto
Investigar los plásticos más pequeños que causan los mayores problemas
Los microplásticos (MP) son partículas de plástico con un tamaño inferior a 5 mm. A pesar de su pequeño tamaño, existe una creciente preocupación ya pueden causar daños importantes a los ecosistemas. Teniendo esto en cuenta, el equipo del proyecto MiCoS, financiado con fondos europeos, investigará los mecanismos que hacen que la contaminación por MP afecte al suelo y a los ecosistemas vegetales. En concreto, se evaluará la contaminación del suelo al correlacionar las concentraciones de MP con indicadores de salud del suelo. Estas correlaciones se validarán y probarán con experimentos de invernadero a fin comprender los fundamentos biológicos subyacentes. En el proyecto también se buscará de forma activa organismos biodegradadores para reducir el riesgo de MP en los ecosistemas edáficos.
Objetivo
Plastics are found in nearly every environment and disrupt key ecosystem services. While the effect of plastic in marine and freshwater ecosystems has been studied extensively, effects of plastic on soil ecosystem functions such as plant growth, microbial biomass and water permeability have been mostly overlooked, particularly for the smallest particles, the microplastics (MPs; ≤ 5 mm). The lack of appropriate techniques and methodologies for sampling, extraction and detection hamper the research concerning MP distribution in soil ecosystems. This research gap has led to fragmentary knowledge and even contradictory results in MP studies on soil ecosystems, as different concentrations, sizes, shapes and MP polymer types were considered. Therefore fundamental insights in the role of MPs on soil and plant health are missing. We will advance the field by working in a three step approach to mechanistically define how MP pollution outbalances the soil (and plant) ecosystem. First, the risk of MP pollution in soil will be assessed by correlating MP concentrations of 240 soils with soil health indicators. To measure the MP concentration, a fast, cost-effective and standardized method to detect, identify and quantify MPs (≥ 1 µm) in soils will be developed. Second, these correlations between MPs and the soil health indicators will be validated and tested in greenhouse experiments, to understand the biological underpinnings that drive these correlations. MP induced changes in plant growth, plant disease susceptibility, soil texture, soil chemical composition and the microbial community will be studied. Third, to reduce the risk (introduction and accumulation) of MPs in soil ecosystems, we will actively search for biodegrading organisms making use of a novel sequencing approach. With this multidisciplinary approach, we will be able to mechanistically define the effects of MPs on soil and plant health and advance the field by identifying plastic-biodegrading microorganisms.
Ámbito científico
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protection
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsfreshwater ecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencessoil sciencesedaphology
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
9000 Gent
Bélgica