Assessing the fate of plastic debris in the marine environment

Summary

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) will assess the fate of plastic debris in the Laguna Madre and increase public awareness of how plastic disposal in coastal watersheds impacts the health of ecosystems. TAMU-CC will quantify plastic biodegradation in the marine environment, identify species of algae and bacteria that colonize plastic debris, identify genes that play a direct role in biodegradation, document the microbial colonization and biodegradation, and develop an educational module aimed at minimizing the use of single-use plastics. Project results will advance understanding of plastic fate in the marine environment.