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Color disparity enhances the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on Cladocopium goreaui
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Researchers studied the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics of different colors on Symbiodiniaceae, the algal symbionts of reef-building corals, and found that colored MPs caused greater photosynthetic inhibition and oxidative stress than colorless MPs. Color-associated pigments and chemical additives appear to enhance microplastic toxicity to these critical coral partners.
Coral reef ecosystems are increasingly threatened by environmental stressors, with microplastics (MPs) emerging as a pervasive and harmful contaminant. As essential symbionts of reef-building corals, Symbiodiniaceae are vital to coral health; however, their physiological responses to MPs remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) of five distinct colors (red, yellow, green, blue, and white) on Cladocopium goreaui, a dominant coral symbiont. Exposure to 5 μm PS-MPs at 20 mg/L significantly inhibited algal growth, with blue and white PS-MPs exhibiting the strongest suppression. Growth rates decreased by up to approximately 36.0 % compared to controls over a 20-day exposure period. Although C. goreaui upregulated photosynthetic pigment content to compensate for reduced light availability due to MP aggregation, a substantial portion of the generated energy was diverted to mitigate oxidative stress. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PS-MPs exposure downregulated key genes involved in biosynthetic pathways (e.g., peptide/amide formation) and primary metabolism (e.g., nitrogen assimilation, lipid metabolism). The pronounced toxicity of blue and white PS-MPs was attributed to their strong suppression of fatty acid metabolism and ribosomal function. These findings highlight the role of color disparity in modulating MP toxicity and offer new insight into the physiological and molecular responses of coral symbionts to MP pollution, with implications for coral reef health and resilience.
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Polystyrene microplastics exhibit toxic effects on the widespread coral symbiotic Cladocopium goreaui
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics are highly toxic to Cladocopium goreaui, an algae species that corals depend on for survival. Larger microplastic particles nearly stopped the algae from reproducing and damaged their ability to photosynthesize. Since these symbiotic algae are essential to coral reef health, microplastic pollution could contribute to coral reef decline.
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics at ecologically relevant concentrations impaired the photosynthetic capacity of Symbiodiniaceae algae and promoted coral bleaching, demonstrating that nanoplastic pollution poses a direct threat to coral-symbiont stability.
Unraveling the size-dependent toxicity mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics on coral symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae: Integrated physiological and transcriptomic perspectives
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Researchers exposed three coral-symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae algae species to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes, finding that 10 µm particles caused the most severe damage — reducing photosynthesis, triggering oxidative stress, and disrupting membranes — with toxicity varying by both particle size and algal species, pointing to MP-driven risks for coral reef resilience.
Microplastic exposure represses the growth of endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Cladocopium goreaui in culture through affecting its apoptosis and metabolism
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The coral symbiont alga Cladocopium goreaui was exposed to polystyrene microplastics for one week, resulting in reduced cell density and size, increased oxidative stress markers, and elevated apoptosis indicators. The findings suggest microplastics disrupt the physiology of reef-building coral symbionts, with implications for coral health.
Microplastics inhibit the growth of endosymbiotic Symbiodinium tridacnidorum by altering photosynthesis and bacterial community
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Researchers exposed a type of algae that lives inside coral to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles slowed cell growth and reduced photosynthesis. At higher concentrations, the microplastics clumped together with the algal cells and caused physical damage. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution could harm coral reef ecosystems by disrupting the essential relationship between corals and their symbiotic algae.
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