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Bleaching and necrosis of staghorn coral (Acropora formosa) in laboratory assays: Immediate impact of LDPE microplastics
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LDPE microplastics of five size classes were applied to staghorn coral Acropora formosa in laboratory assays, with the finest fraction (<100 μm) causing 93.6% bleaching by day 14 and concurrent necrosis, while larger size classes caused progressively less severe damage. The study provides direct evidence that ingested microplastics cause acute bleaching and tissue necrosis in reef-building coral, with particle size being a key determinant of severity.
The impact of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics (<100 μm; P100-A P100-B, P100-C, 100-200 μm; P200, 200-500 μm; P500) on Acropora formosa was investigated. This study investigated the bleaching and necrosis extent of A. formosa caused by LDPE contamination via laboratory assay. The staghorn coral ingested the microplastics, resulting in bleaching and necrosis that concomitantly occurred with the release of zooxanthellae. P100-A experimentation was the worst case, showing bleaching by day 2 (10.8 ± 2.2%) and continued bleaching to 93.6% ± 2.0 by day 14 followed by 5.9 ± 2.5% necrosis. The overall results confirmed that the LDPE concentration impacts coral health. We highlighted that microplastics have been ingested and partially egested. Their presence showed either a direct or indirect impact on coral polyps via direct interaction or through photosynthesis perturbation due to microplastics that cover the coral surface.
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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.