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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.
Knowledge about the effects of plastic waste on the environment is relevant, an important raw material for the industry due to its low cost, high durability and easy molding, but which has had drastic and irreversible consequences for ecosystems, including aquatic ones. It is known that in the oceans this polymer is found in all shapes and sizes, and its action on marine biota has been widely described, among the findings being that corals ingest these microparticles when they confuse them with their prey, which induce the disruption of zooxanthellae leading to death, in addition to causing tissue damage and disease. Despite this, experimental research is still incipient, and this study fills the gap in the literature about what effects the microplastics (MPs) most found in the oceans can cause in non-scleractinian corals. It was found that the concentration of microplastics used in this study caused physiological effects in the soft coral Xenia elongata, affecting respiratory functions, growth, and even leading to mortality
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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.
Scleractinian corals incorporate microplastic particles: identification from a laboratory study
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Laboratory experiments demonstrated that scleractinian corals actively incorporate microplastic particles during feeding, with ingestion rates varying by particle size and polymer type, raising concerns about chronic microplastic exposure in coral reef ecosystems.
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.
Impact of micro-and nanoplastic contamination on reef-building corals
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Researchers exposed two tropical coral species to micro- and nanoplastics of varying polymer types and assessed bleaching, symbiont loss, and tissue damage. Both species showed stress responses including reduced photosynthetic efficiency and partial bleaching, with effects varying by plastic type and size, suggesting reef-building corals are vulnerable to plastic pollution.
Research progress on the effects of microplastics on coral reef ecosystems
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This review synthesized current knowledge on microplastic pollution in coral reef ecosystems, covering global distribution of reef-associated microplastics, ingestion by reef organisms, and impacts on coral health. Microplastics were found to impair coral feeding, disrupt zooxanthellae, transfer toxins to reef organisms, and potentially contribute to coral reef degradation.
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.