Plastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Microbial Communities, Chemical Leachates, and Ecological Consequences

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 12:30pm to 1:30pm

SMAST East 101-103 : 836 S. Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford MA 02744
Callie Rumbut
c.rumbut@umassd.edu
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/97440069270

Seminar Announcement
Department of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences
"Plastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Microbial Communities, Chemical Leachates, and Ecological Consequences"
Dr. Christopher Ward
Research Assistant Professor, Estuarine and Ocean Sciences, UMass Dartmouth 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
12:30 - 1:30 pm
SMAST E 101-103 and via Zoom

Abstract:

Plastic pollution affects aquatic ecosystems through more than the accumulation of persistent particles. Plastic surfaces provide novel habitats for microbial colonization, while additives and other plastic-associated chemicals can leach into surrounding waters and affect aquatic organisms. Over the past decade, my lab and I have investigated microbial colonization of plastics and the toxicity of plastic leachates in marine and freshwater ecosystems. In coastal seawater, we found that plastics supported distinct microbial communities that varied by polymer type and underwent predictable patterns of ecological succession. Complementary experiments demonstrated that plastic leachates varied in toxicity but were uniformly highly toxic to barnacle nauplii, even at the lowest concentrations tested. More recently, we extended this research to freshwater ecosystems, examining the effects of plastic leachates on multiple components of the Lake Erie food web, including microbial communities, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish. Plastic leachates elicited diverse, species- and concentration-dependent responses, ranging from growth inhibition or stimulation in phytoplankton to sublethal physiological effects in zooplankton. Preliminary experiments with zebrafish also suggested unexpectedly enhanced wound healing. LC-MS/MS analyses detected compounds present in plastic leachates in samples from drinking-water treatment plants. Finally, I will discuss how insights from these studies can inform the evaluation of emerging biodegradable materials. In particular, I will highlight opportunities to integrate microbial ecology, environmental genomics, and ecotoxicology with biodegradation measurements to better understand the environmental fate and biological consequences of conventional and alternative plastics.

Join Meeting

https://umassd.zoom.us/j/97440069270

Note: Meeting ID and password required, email contact to obtain.

For additional information, please contact Callie Rumbut at c.rumbut@umassd.edu