Investigating the impacts of environmentally relevant microplastic exposures on iconic wetland biota in a multi-stressor

The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of MPs on the common frog, Rana temporaria, both as heterogenous assemblages, and upon co-exposure with other ubiquitous stressors. The specific objectives are to:
1. To determine MP contamination in Ramsar designated (protected48) and agricultural FW wetlands.
2. To investigate the effects of heterogenous MP assemblages on survival, growth, metamorphosis and gonadal development in common frogs.
3. To investigate the combined and relative effects of MPs upon multi-stressor exposures with an environmentally relevant pollutant mixture and/or a simulated heat wave.
MP research is inherently high impact due to public awareness/concern, as such, it is often reported upon in the mainstream media. MPs are highly topical, encompassing both concerns for wildlife and for human health (e.g. 'plasticenta' 53). Surprisingly, there are no available reports detailing the effects of environmentally relevant MP assemblages on biota, and therefore the biological effects of MPs remain poorly defined. Furthermore, it is now widely recognised that in the vast majority of cases, harm to wildlife is the result of multiple interacting stressors, and that pollution and global warming represent stressors negatively impacting great swathes of biodiversity8. The combination of MP and multi-stressor research, and the incorporation of pollution/global warming and highly threatened biota (i.e. amphibians), brings together several highly topical strands of research. Thus, this work is expected to generate a high level of interest/impact within academia (publications, conferences), amongst policy makers (Defra/SEPA) and with the general public (outreach). The support of Defra/SEPA demonstrate alignment of the proposed project with regional/national priorities, as well as providing a clear avenue for the dissemination of findings to policy makers