Project description
Transgenerational mechanisms affecting MNP transport in clonal plants
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) threaten aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic clonal plants may effectively remediate MNPs, but their success may depend on transgenerational adaptation. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PlastClon project will investigate how transgenerational mechanisms affect the transport and adaptation of MNPs in the clonal macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. It will introduce a risk-sharing ecological adaptation framework that connects mechanistic insights with remediation strategies. Advanced techniques, including europium labelling, in vivo imaging, and synchrotron analysis, will trace MNP transport, while multi-omics will identify molecular drivers of adaptation. A machine learning mesocosm model will also be developed to predict ecosystem responses and assess the purification potential of clonal plants for MNP capture.
Objective
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly recognised as emerging pollutants threatening aquatic ecosystem health and resilience. Among potential Nature-based Solutions (NbS), aquatic clonal plants show strong promise for MNP remediation, yet the mechanisms underlying their capacity remain poorly understood. A critical but overlooked factor is transgenerational adaptation, the transfer of adaptive traits from parents to offspring, which may shape long-term remediation efficiency. The PlastClon project addresses this gap by investigating transgenerational mechanisms of MNP transport and adaptation in the clonal macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. It will pioneer a 'risk sharing-ecological adaptation (RSEA)' framework as a scalable NbS, linking mechanistic insights with remediation strategies. Advanced techniques, including europium labelling, in vivo imaging, and synchrotron analysis, will trace transgenerational transport, while multi-omics will uncover molecular drivers of adaptation. In parallel, a machine learning mesocosm model will predict ecosystem responses and quantify the purification potential of clonal MNP capture. The project will be hosted at the University of Birmingham (UoB) under the supervision of Dr Peng Zhang, a leader in plant-pollutant interactions and synchrotron-based analysis, with guidance from co-supervisors Dr Zhiling Guo, Prof. Iseult Lynch, and Prof. Stefan Krause. UoB's Birmingham Plastics Network and EcoLab provide world-class facilities. A secondment at NovaMechanics Ltd (NovaMech) will complement experiments with computational modelling, supported by Dr Antreas Afantitis. Dr Mengen Kang (Experienced Researcher, ER) brings expertise in ecotoxicology, risk assessment, and omics-based analysis. Through PlastClon, he will gain advanced skills in MNP labelling, quantification, predictive modelling, strengthening his capacity to integrate experimental and computational tools for plastic pollution remediation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences hydrology limnology
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
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