Impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on a marine bivalve of commercial and ecological relevance

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Plastic pollution has become one of the foremost environmental issues of the 21st century. A staggering 4.6-12.7M metric tons of plastic debris enter the ocean annually with the Philippines being one of the major contributors in the central Indo-Pacific. Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are of particular concern as they can be ingested by organisms including marine bivalves, and can cause adverse effects on their health. Such impacts of MNPs are especially problematic in low-income countries such as the Philippines, where species such C. iredalei are an essential part of regional aquaculture and fisheries as they provide livelihood for coastal communities composed of fishermen and informal settlers that are part of marginalized sectors. Also, the specific mechanisms by which MNPs cause effects in bivalves in general remain poorly described in the global scientific literature. Therefore, this study will comprehensively characterize the specific molecular mechanism by which microplastic ingestion can affect the growth, ecophysiology, and the associated microbiome of C. iredalei, and through this, provide novel information supporting the conservation of this and other closely related species, including oysters and other shellfish native to Canada. This project will be realized through a trans-Pacific research and student training partnership between the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and the University of the Philippines (MSI), which we intend to develop into a long-term and fruitful partnership that will be uniquely positioned to address global issues in marine conservation and protection.