Abstract Description

Coastal regions are at the interface between terrestrial and marine ecosystems and provide important cultural, economic and ecosystem services. However, the functioning of these systems is threatened by natural and anthropogenic stressors. The United Nations has reported that approximately 80 % of all marine pollution originates from municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes and runoff, introducing a range of emerging contaminants (EC) into coastal environments. False Bay, Western Cape, has been identified as being under significant threat from EC with it being described as the ‘bay of sewage’ as well as a ‘glimpse into the Anthropocene’. Therefore, further work is needed to study the potential effects EC are having upon marine microbiomes. Our study has three aims: to monitor river inlets into False Bay with a focus on coastal regions and pharmaceutical contaminants; second, to investigate the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on marine microbial communities; and finally, to isolate and characterise microorganisms with capacity to degrade selected ECs, investigating their potential for biotechnological applications. Understanding the role of anthropogenic pollutants on the marine microbial community would help elucidate the potential ecological risk and ramifications on coastal systems. This would further improve our ability to model global coastal areas under an anthropogenic future.