PlastClon · Transgenerational mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastic transport and adaptation in aquatic clonal plants

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly recognised as emerging pollutants threatening aquatic ecosystem health and resilience. Among potential Nature-based Solutions (NbS), aquatic clonal plants show strong promise for MNP remediation, yet the mechanisms underlying their capacity remain poorly understood. A critical but overlooked factor is transgenerational adaptation, the transfer of adaptive traits from parents to offspring, which may shape long-term remediation efficiency. The PlastClon project addresses this gap by investigating transgenerational mechanisms of MNP transport and adaptation in the clonal macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. It will pioneer a 'risk sharing-ecological adaptation (RSEA)' framework as a scalable NbS, linking mechanistic insights with remediation strategies. Advanced techniques, including europium labelling, in vivo imaging, and synchrotron analysis, will trace transgenerational transport, while multi-omics will uncover molecular drivers of adaptation. In parallel, a machine learning mesocosm model will predict ecosystem responses and quantify the purification potential of clonal MNP capture. The project will be hosted at the University of Birmingham (UoB) under the supervision of Dr Peng Zhang, a leader in plant-pollutant interactions and synchrotron-based analysis, with guidance from co-supervisors Dr Zhiling Guo, Prof. Iseult Lynch, and Prof. Stefan Krause. UoB's Birmingham Plastics Network and EcoLab provide world-class facilities. A secondment at NovaMechanics Ltd (NovaMech) will complement experiments with computational modelling, supported by Dr Antreas Afantitis. Dr Mengen Kang (Experienced Researcher, ER) brings expertise in ecotoxicology, risk assessment, and omics-based analysis. Through PlastClon, he will gain advanced skills in MNP labelling, quantification, predictive modelling, strengthening his capacity to integrate experimental and computational tools for plastic pollution remediation.