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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Human Health Effects
Marine & Wildlife
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Long-term aquaria study suggests species-specific responses of two cold-water corals to macro-and microplastics exposure
Environmental Pollution2019
94 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Vincent Mouchi,
Leïla Chapron,
Leïla Chapron,
Pierre E. Galand
Leïla Chapron,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Erwan Péru,
Erwan Péru,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Erwan Péru,
Leïla Chapron,
Leïla Chapron,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Erwan Péru,
Erwan Péru,
Erwan Péru,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Pierre E. Galand
Franck Lartaud,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Erwan Péru,
Erwan Péru,
Pierre E. Galand
Pierre E. Galand
Audrey M. Pruski,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Gilles Vétion,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Pierre E. Galand
Franck Lartaud,
Pierre E. Galand
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Gilles Vétion,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Audrey M. Pruski,
Franck Lartaud,
Pierre E. Galand
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Gilles Vétion,
Gilles Vétion,
Gilles Vétion,
Gilles Vétion,
Franck Lartaud,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Leïla Chapron,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Pierre E. Galand
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Leïla Chapron,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Franck Lartaud,
Anne‐Leïla Meistertzheim,
Pierre E. Galand
Pierre E. Galand
Pierre E. Galand
Summary
Two cold-water coral species were exposed to micro- and macroplastics for five months, with LDPE microplastics impairing prey capture and growth in Lophelia pertusa while having no effect on Madrepora oculata, and macroplastic films causing L. pertusa to develop avoidance behaviors. The species-specific responses suggest that plastic pollution may differentially affect cold-water coral community composition over time.
Plastic pollution has been identified as a major threat for coastal marine life and ecosystems. Here, we test if the feeding behaviour and growth rate of the two most common cold-water coral species, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, are affected by micro- or macroplastic exposures. Low-density polyethylene microplastics impair prey capture and growth rates of L. pertusa after five months of exposure. Macroplastic films, mimicking plastic bags trapped on deep-sea reefs, had however a limited impact on L. pertusa growth. This was due to an avoidance behaviour illustrated by the formation of skeletal 'caps' that changed the polyp orientation and allowed its access to food supply. On the contrary, M. oculata growth and feeding were not affected by plastic exposure. Such a species-specific response has the potential to induce a severe change in coral community composition and the associated biodiversity in deep-sea environments.