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Oxidative stress and histological alterations in coral Briareum violacea co-exposed to ocean acidification and microplastic stressors
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Researchers exposed the coral Briareum violacea to combined ocean acidification and polyethylene microplastics for 21 days. The study found that the combination of lower pH and microplastic exposure caused greater oxidative stress and tissue damage than either stressor alone, suggesting that these two major environmental threats may have compounding effects on coral health.
Ocean acidification and microplastic pollution are two major stressors threatening coral health, yet their combined impacts and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the combined effects of ocean acidification and microplastics exposure to coral health. Briareum violacea was exposed to pH at 7.7, 7.5, and 7.3 combined with polyethylene microplastic (PE-MP; 50 mg/L) for 21 days. Polyp length and behavioral adaptability were monitored daily, while coral was collected on days 14 and 21 to assess Symbiodiniaceae density, antioxidant enzyme activity, and histopathological alterations. Results showed that combined exposure to different pH (7.7, 7.5, and 7.3) and PE-MP significantly impaired coral condition, reduced polyp length and Symbiodiniaceae density, along with intensified oxidative stress and tissue damage compared to single stressors. These findings underscore coral vulnerability under combined stressors, emphasizing the necessity for future research to address long-term ecological consequences and resilience mechanisms in coral reef ecosystems.
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Interactive effects of microplastic pollution and heat stress on reef-building corals
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This study tested the combined effects of microplastic exposure and heat stress on reef-building corals, finding that the combination caused more damage than either stressor alone. As climate change raises ocean temperatures, the simultaneous pressure from plastic pollution may accelerate coral reef decline.
Microplastic exposure under future oceanic conditions further threatens an endangered coral, Acropora cervicornis
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Researchers exposed the threatened Caribbean coral Acropora cervicornis to microplastics under predicted future ocean conditions (acidification and warming) and found that combined stressors were more damaging than individual stressors. Growth rates declined and photosynthetic efficiency dropped most under the combined microplastic plus ocean warming and acidification treatment.
Impact of polyethylene microplastics on coral Goniopora columna causing oxidative stress and histopathology damages
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Researchers exposed the coral Goniopora columna to different concentrations of polyethylene microplastics over seven days. They found that the microplastics accumulated on and inside the corals, reduced polyp length, disrupted zooxanthellae density, and triggered oxidative stress as indicated by changes in antioxidant enzyme activity and increased tissue damage. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to coral health through both physical and biochemical pathways.
Exposure to global change and microplastics elicits an immune response in an endangered coral
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Researchers exposed an endangered coral species to combined stressors of elevated seawater temperature, reduced pH, and microplastics, finding that these global change factors together with local microplastic pollution elicit measurable immune responses, suggesting additive or synergistic stress effects on reef-building corals.
The multiple responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis in the multi-stressor scenario: Impacts of low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and microplastics
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to the combined stressors of low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and microplastics for 15 days. While whole-organism functions like respiration were unaffected, the study found significant cellular-level impacts, suggesting that microplastics interact with ocean acidification and deoxygenation to cause subtle but measurable stress in marine invertebrates.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.