Limnic systems

Factsheet 7.2: Mikroplastik im Nahrungsnetz in Gewässern - Analyse von Wirkung und Transfer am Beispiel der Fadenwürmer (Nematoden)

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 06 May 2021 12:42:40 +0000

Factsheet 7.2: Microplastics in the aquatic food web - Impact and transfer analysis based on the example of roundworms (nematodes) janna.vakili@e… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 14:42

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Photo: © Hendrik Füser, Bielefeld University, Department of Animal Ecology

Beschreibung

"To assess the ecologic danger posed by microplastics, one must also consider indirect effects in the food web", say Sebastian Höss (Ecossa) and Marie-Theres Rauchschwalbe (Bielefeld University). The researchers from the joint project MikroPlaTaS looked at these effects using nematodes as an example.

Roundworms (nematodes) live in the sediment layer of water bodies and serve as a food source for larger aquatic organisms. Nematodes are capable of absorbing microplastics within a matter of minutes, resulting in these small plastic particles entering the food chain. Insights into the subsequent effects are useful for considering the transfer of microplastics in the food web, as nematodes are a significant food source for organisms in the bottom zone of the water body.

The project partners of the joint project MikroPlaTaS worked in the field, in the laboratory and in semi-outdoor systems (micro- and mesocosms). In this way, impact thresholds and mechanisms were modelled with the help of individual laboratory species of meio- and macrofauna, which could then be tested under realistic conditions for complex organism communities.

The results of the investigations are presented in the second factsheet of the research project. This is available here as a PDF download.

Attachments

Factsheet 7.2 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Joint project

MikroPlaTas

Year

2021

Author

Authors

Sebastian Höss

Marie-Theres Rauchschwalbe

Hendrik Fueser

Walter Traunspurger

Type of Result

factsheets

Citation

Höss, Sebastian; Rauchschwalbe, Marie-Theres; Fueser, Hendrik; Traunspurger, Walter (2021): Microplastics in the aquatic food web: Impact and transfer analysis based on the example of roundworms (nematodes). Fact sheet 7.2 of the BMBF research focus „Plastics in the Environment“.

Tags

Benthos

Sampling

Watercourses

Limnic systems

Environmental sustainability

Whereabouts

Publikationstyp

Ergebnis

Factsheet 7.1: Mikroplastik in Talsperren - Wie verhalten sich Plastikteilchen in Staubereichen?

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 06 May 2021 12:41:30 +0000

Factsheet 7.1: Microplastics around dams - How do plastic particles behave in reservoirs? janna.vakili@e… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 14:41

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Beschreibung

Plastic is now ubiquitous not only in the sea but also in many inland waters. In certain areas, such as at barrages or in dams, the flow velocity decreases. As a result, the particles previously held in suspension by the current begin to sink to the bottom of the water and can then accumulate in the sediment.

The behavior of microplastic particles in dams and reservoirs has been intensively studied by the research team of the collaborative project MikroPlaTaS. In this first factsheet of the project, selected results on the factors influencing the sinking processes are presented.

Factsheet 7.1 is available here as a PDF download.

Attachments

Factsheet 7.1 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Joint project

MikroPlaTas

Year

2021

Author

Authors

Antje Nieber

Friederike Gabel

Rico Leiser

Diana Michler-Kozma

Per Olaf Walter

Katrin Wendt-Potthoff

Type of Result

factsheets

Citation

Nieber, Antje; Gabel, Friederike; Leiser, Rico; Michler-Kozma, Diana, Walter, Per Olaf; Wendt-Potthoff, Katrin (2021): Microplastics around dams: How do plastic particles behave in reservoirs? Fact sheet 7.1 of the BMBF research focus „Plastics in the Environment“.

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Publikationstyp

Verschoben: IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:55:25 +0000

Postponed: IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition janna.vakili@e… Fri, 11/08/2019 - 14:55

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Beschreibung

The IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition is the global event for water professionals covering the entire water cycle. As the Congress rotates through cities and countries each event has an extra emphasis on issues of specific interest to the region. An exact date in September 2022 is yet to be announced.

There will be a strong representation and contribution from Nordic and Baltic Sea countries, making the IWA Congress & Exhibition a vital opportunity to learn about the Nordic water challenges and solutions, including participation in technical site visits.

Important dates:
30 October 2019: Abstracts submission deadline

Super Early Bird Registration deadline extended to 15 January 2021.

Location

Copenhagen, Denmark

Organiser

IWA - International Water Association

Date

01 September 2022

Further Links

Website of the event

Image Gallery

Tags

Surface water

Sea

Limnic systems

Environmental sustainability

Date sort

Thu, 09/01/2022 - 12:00

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EU Water Innovation Conference 2019

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 15:37:50 +0000

EU Water Innovation Conference 2019 janna.vakili@e… Thu, 11/07/2019 - 16:37

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Beschreibung

The European Commission aims to raise awareness about the need and urgency to improve water management across the European Union towards a water-smart society. Carrying the theme "Accelerating action to tackle water pollution and enhance EU preparedness to water-related climate change impacts" the EU Water Innovation Conference 2019 will feed innovators minds with best practices and innovative approaches at technical, governance and policy levels.

Participants can expect to:

Hear the direction the European Commission is taking in its water, climate change and research and innovation policies;
Learn the lessons of experienced water innovators in Europe;
Gain insight into the regulatory and financial framework, partnerships and how to successfully establish innovation;
Network with potential collaboration partners;
Get to know the funding and financial instruments available.

Registration possible via the website of the event.

Location

Zaragoza, Spain

Organiser

European Commission

Date

11 - 13 December 2019

11. - 13. Dezember 2019

Further Links

Website der Veranstaltung

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Date sort

Wed, 12/11/2019 - 12:00

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Die Plastikpiraten gehen ab 1. Mai wieder in eine neue Runde

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:31:06 +0000

The Plastic Pirates will explore German rivers again from May 1, 2019 linda.mederake… Thu, 02/07/2019 - 10:31

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Further Links

campaign materials (in German)

Attachments

Plastikpiraten-Flyer (in German)

Beschreibung

The amount of plastic waste found at and in German rivers is still unexplored in many places. Following campaigns in 2016, 2017 and 2018, young people aged 10 to 16 are once again called upon to support science and go on expeditions as "plastic pirates" in 2019. The next sampling period will take place from 1 May to 30 June 2019.

The revised campaign materials can now be ordered free of charge: https://bmbf-plastik.de/plastikpiraten/aktionsmaterialien.

Date

07 April 2019

Tags

Awareness raising

Limnic systems

Date sort

Sun, 04/07/2019 - 12:00

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Plastic Pirates sample litter at rivers in Germany – Riverside litter and litter sources estimated by schoolchildren

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 13:40:33 +0000

Plastic Pirates sample litter at rivers in Germany – Riverside litter and litter sources estimated by schoolchildren linda.mederake… Thu, 01/17/2019 - 14:40

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Beschreibung

Rivers are an important source of marine anthropogenic litter, but the particular origins of riverine litter itself have not been well established. Here we used a citizen science approach where schoolchildren examined litter at riversides and identified possible sources at over 250 sampling spots along large and small rivers in Germany, during autumn 2016 and spring 2017. Litter densities have an overall median of 0.14, interquartile range 0–0.57 items m−2 and an overall average (±standard deviation) of 0.54 ± 1.20 litter items m−2. Litter quantities differed only little by sampling year. The principal litter types found were plastics and cigarette butts (31% and 20%, respectively), followed by glass, paper, and metal items, indicating recreational visitors as the principal litter source. At many sites (85%), accumulations of litter, consisting principally of cigarettes and food packaging, have been found. At almost all sampling sites (89%), litter potentially hazardous to human health has been observed, including broken glass, sharp metal objects, used personal hygiene articles and items containing chemicals. In the search for litter sources, the schoolchildren identified mainly people who use the rivers as recreational areas (in contrast to residents living in the vicinity, illegal dumping, or the river itself depositing litter from upstream sources). These results indicate the urgent need for better education and policy measures in order to protect riparian environments and reduce input of riverine litter to the marine environment.

Further Links

Journal Article (restricted access)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.025

Magazine

Environmental Pollution

Year

2019

Author

Authors

Tim Kiessling

Katrin Knickmeier

Katrin Kruse

Dennis Brennecke

Alice Nauendorf

Martin Thiel

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Kiessling, Tim; Knickmeier, Katrin; Kruse, Katrin; Brennecke, Dennis; Nauendorf, Alice; Thiel, Martin (2019): Plastic Pirates sample litter at rivers in Germany – Riverside litter and litter sources estimated by schoolchildren. Environmental Pollution 245, p. 545-557.

Tags

Macroplastics

Limnic systems

Publikationstyp

Publikation

MICRO 2018 International Conference

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Wed, 09 May 2018 07:53:40 +0000

MICRO 2018 International Conference linda.mederake… Wed, 05/09/2018 - 09:53

Untertitel

Fate and Impacts of Microplastics: Knowledge, Actions and Solutions

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Beschreibung

While the accumulation of microplastics in marine ecosystems has been reported in the literature since the 1970s, many questions remain open. MICRO 2018 provides an opportunity to share available knowledge, fill in gaps, identify new questions and research needs, and develop commitments to operationalise solutions; MICRO 2018 will be a chance to reconvene, share what we have learned, and generate momentum for the work that remains to be done.

Participants are invited to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations on the following topics:
• Marine Ecosystems
• Freshwater bodies
• From MACRO to nano
• Social change and behaviour
• Human health
• Policy

Location

Lanzarote, Spain

Date

19 - 23 November 2018

19. - 23. November 2018

Further Links

For more information: http://micro2018.sciencesconf.org

Attachments

Invitation and Call for Abstracts

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Date sort

Mon, 11/19/2018 - 12:00

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Mikroplastik in Binnengewässern Süd- und Westdeutschlands

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:28:44 +0000

Mikroplastik in Binnengewässern Süd- und Westdeutschlands linda.mederake… Wed, 04/04/2018 - 16:28

Untertitel

Bundesländerübergreifende Untersuchungen in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Nordrhein-Westfalen und Rheinland-Pfalz. Teil 1: Kunststoffpartikel in der oberflächennahen Wasserphase

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Beschreibung

Between 2014 and 2017, a research group at the University of Bayreuth led by Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch gathered and analysed water samples from 22 rivers, mainly in the catchment area of the Rhein and Donau (Danube) rivers. The new findings now represent one of the world's largest data sets from standardized studies on the appearance of plastic particles in rivers.

The study was commissioned by the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The 52 water samples under examination were taken from regions in southern and western Germany that varied greatly with respect to landscape, settlement, and industrial density. The researchers in Bayreuth found and analysed more than 19,000 objects in these samples of which 4,335 were unambiguously identified as plastic particles.

Around 99 percent of these plastic particles are smaller than 5 millimetres and are thus classified as microplastics. Tiny particles with a diameter of 0.02 - 0.3 millimetres (20 - 300 micrometers) are the most common: they account for 62 percent of the plastic particles that were found. What is striking is that higher concentrations of microplastics tend to be found in small and medium-sized tributaries. Only low to medium concentration levels were measured in the Rhein, the largest body of water studied.

Polyethylene and polypropylene are the types of plastic that have the highest market share in Europe. Unsurprisingly, the majority of particles analysed were also made of these types of plastics. The irregular, fragmentary appearance of most particles suggest that they are fragments of larger plastic objects. In addition, plastic fibres were discovered at many sampling sites. Other forms of particles such as foil remnants, beads, or pellets were not discovered as often.

(section of a press release by Universität Bayreuth)

Attachments

full report (in German)

Further Links

Press release: Microplastics in rivers: The University of Bayreuth provides bas…

Year

2018

Author

Authors

Publisher

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Heß, Maren; Diehl, Peter, Mayer, Jens; Rehm, Harald; Reifenhäuser, Werner; Stark , Jochen; Schweiger, Julia (2018): Mikroplastik in Binnengewässern Süd- und Westdeutschlands Bundesländerübergreifende Untersuchungen in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Nordrhein-Westfalen und Rheinland-Pfalz. Teil 1: Kunststoffpartikel in der oberflächennahen Wasserphase. Karlsruhe, Augsburg, Wiesbaden, Recklinghausen, Mainz.

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Publikationstyp

Investigating options for reducing releases in the aquatic environment of microplastics emitted by (but not intentionally added in) products

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 12:47:31 +0000

Investigating options for reducing releases in the aquatic environment of microplastics emitted by (but not intentionally added in) products linda.mederake… Tue, 04/03/2018 - 14:47

Untertitel

Final Report

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Beschreibung

This report has been prepared for the European Commission by ICF in association with Eunomia and partners.

The objectives of the study were to:

Critically assess all available information on sources, pathways and impacts of microplastics in the aquatic environment, as well as on actions aiming at their reduction;
Provide the analysis for the Commission to identify relevant measures and policy options to reduce releases of microplastics in the aquatic environment including through product policies, improved sewerage and storm water collection, improved waste water treatment and any other relevant measures whether specific to the various sources of microplastics or horizontal measures;
After validation of the proposed options by the Commission, analyse the social, economic and environmental impacts of the selected options
Compare the impacts of the options with the baseline to enable the selection of most efficient and effective options, on the basis of which the Commission might propose preferred action(s)/options at EU level.

Attachments

full report

Year

2018

Author

Simon Hann

Chris Sherrington

Olly Jamieson

Molly Hickman

Peter Kershaw

Ayesha Bapasola

George Cole

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Hann, Simon; Sherrington, Chris; Jamieson, Olly; Hickman, Molly; Kershaw, Peter; Bapasola, Ayesha; Cole, George (2018): Investigating options for reducing releases in the aquatic environment of microplastics emitted by (but not intentionally added in) products. Final Report. London/Bristol.

Tags

Catchment area

Sewage treatment plant

Publikationstyp

Call for Manuscripts for Special Issue on Plastic in Freshwater Ecosystems

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 08:31:25 +0000

Call for Manuscripts for Special Issue on Plastic in Freshwater Ecosystems linda.mederake… Thu, 03/29/2018 - 10:31

Beschreibung

Dr. Friederike Gabel (WWU Münster) and Dr. Katrin Wendt-Potthoff (UFZ) invite researchers to submit manuscripts of research articles on plastics in freshwater ecosystems for a special issue in Fundamental and Applied Limnology. Manuscripts should be handed in by the end of July 2018.

For more information on the call click here. For any further inquiries and to submit your manuscript, please contact gabelf@uni-muenster.de or katrin.wendt-potthoff@ufz.de.

Date

29 March 2018

Tags

Limnic systems

Date sort

Thu, 03/29/2018 - 12:00

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