Ecotoxicological effects and ecological consequences of microplastics on soil functioning - Microplastics

Objectives

The objective of this thesis is to quantify the ecotoxicological effects and to understand the ecological consequences of MP on soil functioning, focusing on the relationships between processes in the soil, implemented by organisms belowground and aboveground. In particular, we will test the hypothesis that interactions between organisms in the soil exacerbate exposure to MP, while interactions in the presence of a plant mitigate MP exposure in each biological compartment. We will test the direct effects of MP on different model organisms and aim to assess the influence of trophic interactions on MP ecotoxicity via feedbacks from the different organisms studied. The general approach is based on experiments in controlled systems with an increasing complexity of exposure situations, and a modelling of the observed effects with regard to food webs. The expected results will provide new knowledge on the functional ecotoxicity of MP, with the aim of developing a conceptual model.