An across-ecosystem approach:

Work package 0 (WP0):    Management, communication and dissemination

WP0 assures an efficient and targeted support of the consortium concerning project management, communication and dissemination. WP0 coordinates public relations as well as the utilization of attained results. Furthermore, WP0 is in charge of coordinating the cooperation of all project partners. Thus, WP0 is in close contact with all project partners. In addition, WP0 is responsible for harmonizing sampling, purification, modelling as well as public relations with the joint research project MicroCatch_Balt and also for communication with other networks and collaborations.

Contact:          
Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch,
University of Bayreuth (UBT), Chair of Animal Ecology I

Project partner:               
Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)

                                              

 

Work package 1 (WP1):    Microplastic in the model system Weser-Wadden Sea

The objective of WP1 is to study the entire rivers system of the Weser from the head waters up to the coastal waters in regards of the microplastic contamination. For the finalization of the actual sampling points the real data required for the modelling programs RAUMIS-mGROWA-MePhos and the “Gezeitenmodell” (WP3) will be taken into account. Two sampling campagnes are planned during different seasons with different flow conditions of the Weser.

Contact:          
Dr. Gunnar Gerdts,
Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Biosciences - Shelf Sea System Ecology

Project partners:              
University of Bayreuth (UBT), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (UOld)

 

 

Work package 2 (WP2):    Entry routes of microplastics – major point and diffuse sources

In WP2 an exemplary evaluation of the entry routes of microplastic is conducted. Hereby major point sources like waste water treatment plants and water from sewer systems but also diffuse sources such as drainage and atmospheric fallout are regarded. For this, selected sampling points of various landforms and land usage along the Weser catchment area will be characterised. The main focus hereby lies in the quantification of entry routes. Sampling will be synchronized with the sampling campagne of the surface water of the Weser.  

Contact:          
Prof. Dr. Andreas Held,
University of Bayreuth (UBT), Chair of Atmospheric Chemistry

Project partners:               
Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)

 

 

Work package 3 (WP3):    Model-assisted accounting of diffuse and point entries of microplastics

WP3 aims towards a spatially resolved quantification of the diffuse and point entry routes of microplastic as well as the identification of spatial hot spots and accumulation zones within the catchment area and the estuary. The microplastic input from various diffuse and point entry routes will be modelled. The work is based on the models mGROWA, MEPhos, RAUMIS as well as a transport model and takes the hydro- and sedimentation dynamics into consideration. In this project the modelling chain will particularly be refined in regards of microplastic entry modelling on the inland and further dispersion of microplastics in the sea stretch, the estuary and the coastal area.   

Contact:          
Prof. Dr. Frank Wendland,
Jülich Reserach Centre (FZJ), Institute for Bio- and Geo Sciences, IBG-3, Agrosphere

Project partners:              
Thünen-Institute (TI), Forschungsstelle Küste im Niedersächsischen Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN)

 

 

Work package 4 (WP4):    Interaction of microplastic with pathogenes and biota

In WP4 the effects of microplastic on the ecosystem will be analysed in the model system Weser-Wadden Sea in regard of two aspects which are especially ecologically relevant: “interactions with pathogens and antibiotic resistances” and “interactions with aquatic invertebrates”.  

  • Interactions with pathogens and antibiotic resistances: Since there is an increased genetic exchange on biofilms and an increased amount of antibiotic resistances are found at waste water treatment plants, plastics do not only contribute to the dispersal of pathogenic organisms but also of resistance genes. The consequences of such transfers are currently not foreseeable. Thus, AWI will analyse plastic samples from the Weser with molecular “microbial source tracking” techniques (DNA/RNA-arrays for verification of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa and virulences/resistance genes).

  • Interactions with aquatic invertebrates: To generate exposition data various mollusc species will be exposed to microplastic in the Weser, in the tidal reach and in the Wadden Sea. The digestive tract as well as tissue samples will be analysed for microplastic occurrence via pyrolysis-GC-Ms and spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, historical mollusc (from 1986 onwards) samples from the federal environmental sample bank (UBA) will be analysed via pyrolysis-GC-MS. In addition, chronic toxicity studies with microplastic will be conducted in laboratory experiments with molluscs and worms. Here, various polymers will be conditioned in situ and their effects will be characterised in chronical exposition experiments.

Contact:          
Prof. Dr. Jörg Oehlmann,
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (GU), Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Project partners:               
Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI),
University of Bayreuth (UBT),
Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (UOld)

 

 

Work package 5 (WP5):    Educational measures to raise awareness in terms of plastic waste

In WP5 not only ethnical assessment concepts of students but also the present individual knowledge about the environment will be included. Here, innovative educational material with substantial references to everyday life for a holistic understanding of the plastic contamination in the model system will be assessed and disseminated through an internet-teacher/learning portal. Within this work package UBT will lend assistance in the provision for teachers and “public relations”.

Contact:          
Prof. Dr. Franz X. Bogner,
University of Bayreuth (UBT), Didaktics of Biology

Project partners:               
Alfred-Wegener-Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI),
Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (UOld)

This site makes use of cookies More information