The effect of plankton dynamics on characteristics and vertical distribution of ocean small microplastics

• Project/Area Number: 25K21393
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 64010:Environmental load and risk assessment-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: ALFONSO MARIA・BELEN 九州大学, 応用力学研究所, 准教授 (70961944)
• Project Period (FY): 2025-04-01 – 2027-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2025)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,810,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,110,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000)
• Keywords: zooplankton / microplastics / ocean / fecal pellets

Outline of Research at the Start

In the ocean microplastics (MPs) pose significant ecological risks, particularly through their ingestion by marine organisms like zooplankton. This study will investigate the presence and vertical distribution of small MPs in seawater ruled by zooplankton