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Microplastics in the Adjacent Feeding Area of Corals at Ingeniero Reef, Veracruz Reef System, Mexico
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Researchers sampled water adjacent to corals on Ingeniero Reef in Mexico during dry and rainy seasons and classified microplastics by type, size, and color, finding fiber-dominated contamination that varied with season and developing a new technique for extracting microplastics directly from coral reef environments.
Microplastics impact coral reefs due to their presence in the water column. This is the case of Ingeniero Reef, which borders the Veracruz-Boca del Rio metropolitan area. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of microplastics in the feeding zone adjacent to the corals located on Ingeniero Reef. Two sampling periods were conducted (dry and rainy seasons, 2023), obtaining water samples from the area adjacent to the corals and from the water column, with 20 per sampling period. In the laboratory, the microplastics were separated and classified by type, size, and color. A one-way ANOVA was performed to compare microplastic concentration between the two seasons and average size in corals and the water column, and the Bray–Curtis index was applied. A new technique for obtaining microplastics from coral reefs was developed. The concentration of microplastics varies according to the climatic season, with fibers being the dominant type. The size of microplastics can be a determining factor for corals. The development and application of standardized protocols for studying microplastics will allow for more reliable monitoring programs, yielding comparable results that will enable the assessment of the impact of this emerging pollutant.
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Seasonal tendencies of microplastics around coral reefs in selected Marine Protected National Parks of Gulf of California, Mexico
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Researchers examined seasonal microplastic occurrence in coral reef sediments at two marine protected national parks in the Gulf of California, Mexico, finding higher concentrations at Cabo Pulmo (avg. 680 items/100g d.w.) than Espiritu Santo Island (avg. 322 items/100g d.w.). SEM/EDS analysis revealed that surface-altered microplastics of various sizes and shapes are bioavailable to marine organisms regardless of their physical characteristics.
Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in Seawater and Corals From Reef Region of Sanya Bay, China
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Researchers quantified microplastic abundance in seawater and coral samples from Sanya Bay, China, finding 15-22 items per liter in seawater and up to 3.6 items per coral polyp, with fibers and fragments as the predominant particle types in reef ecosystems.
In situ microplastic ingestion by neritic zooplankton of the central Mexican Pacific
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Researchers documented in situ microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in two bays of the central Mexican Pacific, finding that copepods, decapod larvae, and chaetognaths ingested microplastics, predominantly fibers, with higher rates during the rainy season.
Microfiber abundance associated with coral tissue varies geographically on the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.
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This study found microfibers embedded in coral tissue at multiple sites along the Brazilian coast, with abundance varying by geography and coral species. Higher microfiber loads were found in corals near urban areas, suggesting terrestrial runoff and wastewater as primary sources. The findings raise concern about the physiological effects of microfiber ingestion on coral reef ecosystems.
Seasonal Tendencies of Microplastics around Coral Reefs in Selected Marine Protected National Parks of Gulf of California, Mexico
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This is a conference poster abstract describing a study on the seasonal distribution patterns of microplastics around coral reefs in Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of California, Mexico. It does not present detailed findings but indicates research is ongoing on microplastic contamination in this protected marine environment.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.