| Project/Area Number |
23K17048
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 63040:Environmental impact assessment-related
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Project Status |
Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥3,510,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥810,000)
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| Keywords | microplastic / zooplankton / gulf of thailand / marine / Microplastic / Plastic pollution / Zooplankton / Ingestion / Marine |
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| Outline of Research at the Start |
One way to reduce plastic pollution is by detecting main hotspots and reducing their primary sources. More studies are needed to improve our understanding of microplastics' presence and impact on marine systems. Therefore, this study aims to understand microplastic abundance and characteristics in the Chao Phraya estuary. Also, to determine the exposure of zooplankton organisms to microplastic ingestion and determine the exposition risk of their predators, including the effects of rain and tidal currents
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the project's inaugural year, I conducted an oceanographic survey across the Gulf of Thailand during both wet and dry seasons, encompassing 12 sampling sites. This survey was developed in colaboration with SEAFDEC from Thailand. The objective was to assess the presence of microplastics in the water column and their ingestion by the zooplankton community. A total of 24 zooplankton and water samples were collected for each season, yielding 48 samples in total. Additionally, I actively engaged in collaborative international initiatives such as MOEJ and GPML-UNEP projects, aimed at standardizing microplastic analysis methodologies globally. This collaborative effort facilitated the development of standardized protocols, ensuring uniformity and comparability of research findings across diverse geographical regions.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The project is progressing well towards its objectives. So far, 50% of the collected samples have undergone pre-processing to identify microplastic composition in water and zooplankton. This involved analyzing zooplankton species composition and prepare individuals for microplastic isolation. Given the extensive sampling efforts across 2 seasons, this progress is commendable.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Future dissemination efforts for this research project entail utilizing preliminary findings to draft two manuscripts. Furthermore, I aim to showcase these results at the forthcoming MICRO 2024 conference in Spain, highlighting the valuable insights gleaned from the research.
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