Descrizione del progetto
Studiare le plastiche più piccole che creano i problemi più grandi
Le microplastiche (MP) sono particelle di plastica di dimensioni inferiori a 5 mm. Nonostante le dimensioni ridotte, cresce la preoccupazione per il fatto che le MP possono causare danni significativi agli ecosistemi. In quest’ottica, il progetto MiCoS, finanziato dall’UE, studierà i meccanismi che determinano l’impatto dell’inquinamento da MP sugli ecosistemi del suolo e delle piante. Nello specifico, si valuterà l’inquinamento del suolo mettendo in correlazione le concentrazioni di MP con gli indicatori di salute del suolo. Tali correlazioni saranno convalidate e testate in esperimenti in serra per comprendere le basi biologiche alla loro base. Il progetto si occuperà inoltre di ricercare attivamente organismi biodegradanti per ridurre il rischio di MP negli ecosistemi del suolo.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsIstituzione ospitante
9000 Gent
Belgio