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Experimental observation of microplastics invading the endoderm of anthozoan polyps
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Microplastic microspheres were incorporated into coral polyp cells in the same zones used by symbiotic algae, potentially displacing the algae and disrupting the coral-algae relationship that keeps corals healthy. This mechanism may explain why microplastics interfere with symbiosis, particularly in corals already stressed by bleaching.
Coral reefs are being degraded worldwide by land reclamation and environmental factors, such as high seawater temperature, resulting in mass bleaching events. In addition, microplastics disturb the formation of coral-algae symbiotic relationships in primary polyps. In our experiments, we observed this effect in the bleached primary polyp Seriatopora caliendrum that lost its symbiont Symbiodiniaceae as a result of high water temperature. There was a higher incorporation of microspheres into bleached corals than in healthy ones. To understand the interference in symbiosis, we used the sea anemone Exaiptasia (as an anthozoan model organism) and fed it with microspheres. TEM results suggested the incorporation of microspheres and symbionts from the same phagocytosis zones in the mesenterial filament and endocytosis by the cells. In the tentacles, microspheres were in the same cell layer as the symbionts. These results suggest that microplastics occupy the spaces inhabited by Symbiodiniaceae, thereby hindering their symbiotic association.
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Physiological and biochemical effects of microplastics on corals: Environmental and ecological impacts and mitigation strategies and policy options
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Researchers review how microplastic ingestion disrupts coral physiology through oxidative stress, impaired larval settlement, reduced feeding efficiency, and vectoring of co-contaminants including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, with microplastic-induced bleaching linked to destabilization of the anthozoan-algae symbiosis.
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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.
Microplastics disturb the anthozoan-algae symbiotic relationship
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Microplastics were found to suppress the establishment of symbiotic relationships between anthozoan hosts (sea anemone and coral) and algae (Symbiodiniaceae), with both direct microsphere exposure and indirect exposure through microsphere-fed prey reducing symbiont infectivity. The study provides first evidence that microplastics can disrupt the initiation of coral-algae symbiosis, a fundamental process underpinning coral reef ecosystem function.
Toxicity of microplastics and nano-plastics to coral-symbiotic alga (Dinophyceae Symbiodinium): Evidence from alga physiology, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics and multi-omics
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Researchers studied how microplastics and nanoplastics damage Symbiodinium, the algae that live inside coral and keep reefs alive. Even at concentrations found in the real environment, the plastic particles disrupted photosynthesis, caused oxidative stress, and triggered metabolic problems in the algae. Since the breakdown of this coral-algae partnership leads to coral bleaching, microplastic pollution could threaten the reef ecosystems that support fisheries and coastal communities worldwide.
Effects of Microplastics on Coral Xenia elongata: an Experimental Approach
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Researchers experimentally exposed coral Xenia elongata to microplastics in tank conditions to assess ingestion and tissue effects. Corals ingested microplastic particles when available and showed early signs of zooxanthellae disruption and tissue damage, contributing experimental evidence to field observations of coral-microplastic interactions.
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