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

塑料污染已成为21世纪世纪最重要的环境问题之一。每年有460万至1270万公吨的塑料垃圾进入海洋，菲律宾是印度洋-太平洋中部的主要贡献者之一。微塑料和纳米塑料（MNP）特别令人担忧，因为它们可以被包括海洋双壳类在内的生物摄入，并可能对其健康造成不利影响。MNP的这种影响在菲律宾等低收入国家尤其成问题，那里的C. Iredalei是区域水产养殖和渔业的重要组成部分，因为它们为沿海社区提供生计，这些社区由渔民和非正式定居者组成，他们是边缘化部门的一部分。此外，MNP对双壳类动物造成影响的具体机制在全球科学文献中的描述仍然很少。因此，本研究将全面表征微塑料摄入影响C. Iredalei，并通过这一点，提供新的信息，支持保护这一物种和其他密切相关的物种，包括牡蛎和其他贝类原产于加拿大。该项目将通过萨斯喀彻温大学（USask）和菲律宾大学（MSI）之间的跨太平洋研究和学生培训伙伴关系来实现，我们打算发展成为一个长期和富有成效的伙伴关系，这将是解决海洋养护和保护全球问题的独特定位。

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.