Ongoing
Projects

Plastic pollution is a critical global challenge, with microscopic plastic fragments called microplastics (MPs) contaminating aquatic ecosystems worldwide. As production outpaces proper disposal, these tiny plastics—originating from microbeads or the breakdown of larger debris—accumulate heavily in marine sediments. Given that microorganisms are vital for benthic ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycles, the impact of MPs on these microbes is of major concern.

The MICROBEEF project aims to fill this critical knowledge gap. We investigate the bio-ecological effects of MPs and microfiber (MF) contamination in marine sediments by:

• Assessing the impact of MPs on microbial abundance and biodiversity.

• Determining how MP/MF contamination affects Carbon degradation processes in benthic ecosystems.

Using manipulative experiments with varying plastic types and shapes, MICROBEEF will provide essential data on the ecosystem-scale impacts of plastic pollution, informing global assessments of its effects on biogeochemical cycles.