Abstract
One important and emerging type of pollution is the increasing load of microplastics in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Whereas problems with microplastics for functioning of aquatic ecosystems are intensively studied, their environmental impacts in terrestrial ecosystem remain largely unexplored. The aim of this research is to assess microplastics and nutrient flows through soil macroinvertebrate network structures under extreme environmental conditions. To accomplish this, the transport and accumulation of fossil based and bio-based microplastics in soil invertebrates together with the flow of nutrients will be studied using different soil types, under laboratory and field settings. Some of the leading hypotheses are: first, high microplastic concentrations will be found in soils and in soil invertebrate network structures in fields with more than 10 years of plastic mulch exposure, where low biodiversity might be found. Second, epigeic and anecic earthworms together with coleoptera will accumulate more microplastics in their bodies than endogeic earthworms. Third, ants will transport high microplastic concentrations in Mediterranean soils. Fourth, corn and soil organic matter qualities decrease due to microplastic pollution. Following a cycle of curiosity-driven research, new interesting questions will emerge from the outcome. The impact of this research for science and society will be channeled by an integrated strategy that promotes productive national and international interactions during and after the investigation. Open access scientific papers together with workshops and podcasts will be used for sharing the results with the international and national stakeholders involved in the study, use, production and regulation of plastics.
Netherlands