Matter budget of microplastics in limnic ecosystems: sources, flow paths and sinks of microplastic particles in the model catchment area of Lake Tollense, Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania

• Applicant: Dr. Elke Fischer
• Subject Area: Physical Geography
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 411261467

Current studies demonstrated that rivers and streams are important input pathways for plastics into the marine ecosystems. In this connection, discharging systems act as vectors for matter transport whereas limnic basins above all are storing reservoirs of varying temporal relevance. In contrast to marine systems, the investigation of lakes, being semi-enclosed systems, is favored due to smaller dimensions and structural complexity. Therefore, the budgeting of plastic material covering all ecosystem compartments and the evaluation of fundamental processes such as input, transport, storing, remobilization and export throughout the system is enabled. Within this context, the suggested project aims to provide a comprehensive matter budget, to identify and evaluate relevant influencing factors and the vector transport of microplastics along associated discharging systems.In order to assess transport fluxes and storage components in the framework of a comprehensive matter budget the concentrations of microplastics within the water body (near-surface and water column), sediments (shoreline and lake bed), lateral in- and outflows via discharges and atmospheric inputs are detected and analyzed. Following several periodic sampling periods the results are evaluated based on statistical as well as geostatistical procedures and are simulated with adequate ecosystem models spatially and temporally. The results of the project will provide an important contribution on basic knowledge about origins, in- and outputs, transport and storage of plastics in the environment. Basic conclusions about plastic inputs from freshwaters into marine ecosystems can be achieved and thus, relevant prerequisites concerning potential future monitoring programs can be identified. The research concept of MICROLIM is of high innovation potential and will be the first total microplastic budget approach of a limnic ecosystem, worldwide. The variable behavior of microplastic particles in ecosystems poses a major challenge concerning the research approach and the methodical scope. Thus, it requires a high level of multidisciplinarity, which is of distinctive competency in geographical research.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Jürgen Böhner