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Data Management Plan AQUASERV PID: 37027 MICROMIX - Interaction between microplastics and mercury in a benthic microcosm
Summary
Scientists are studying how microplastics and mercury, two common pollutants in oceans and rivers, might interact with each other in bottom-dwelling sediments, using clams and bacteria as test subjects. This matters because microplastics could potentially make mercury more toxic or easier for marine life to absorb, which could affect the safety of seafood we eat. Note that this document is actually a research plan describing how the study's data will be organized and shared, not a report of results yet, the actual findings aren't available here.
Microplastics (MP) and mercury (Hg) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants with known adverse effects on organisms. In aquatic environments, their co-occurrence and properties promote interactions, which can alter the environmental fate, bioavailability and toxicity of both contaminants. This project aims to investigate the ecotoxicological impacts of MP-Hg interactions on benthic ecosystems through in vivo microcosm exposures of bivalves (Macoma balthica) in the presence of Hg-resistant microbial communities in the sediment. The objectives are to assess mercury speciation, bioaccumulation, toxicity biomarkers and gut microbiome. The expected outcomes are new insights on the interactions of MP-Hg and on their toxicological and ecological impact on benthic ecosystems. This data can contribute to the improvement of environmental risk assessment and management strategies. This DMP describes the management of chemical speciation, biochemical and metagenomic data generated throughout the project. It ensures compliance with the FAIR principles and AQUASERV open access requirements.