Can antibiotics disrupt biogeochemical nitrogen cycling in the coastal ocean?

Marine environments are under growing pressure from antibiotics, sourced from wastewater treatment plants or aquaculture farms, for example.

Antibiotics can inhibit the role that microorganisms play in catalysing essential processes in the marine nitrogen cycle such as nitrogen fixation or nitrification.

Alongside organisation partner, Cefas, I hope to gain a firm understanding of how antibiotics impact these ecosystem functions for effective regulation of pollutants and protection of marine ecosystem health and water quality.