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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic contamination of coral reef fish larvae of the Great Barrier Reef: baseline data and influences of oceanographic and ecological features
ClearMicroplastic contamination of coral reef fish larvae of the Great Barrier Reef: baseline data and influences of oceanographic and ecological features
This study found microplastic contamination in coral reef fish larvae from the Great Barrier Reef, where larval fish are uniquely vulnerable because microplastics overlap in size with their natural zooplankton prey and are concentrated by the same oceanographic processes. Ingestion of microplastics by larvae could impair early development and recruitment to reef fish populations.
Microplastic contamination in coral reef fish larvae: ecological and oceanographic features influence exposure risk.
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in coral reef fish larvae, finding that ecological and oceanographic features such as larval aggregation processes and proximity to plastic accumulation zones significantly influence the degree of microplastic exposure risk for larval fish.
Evaluation of microplastic ingestion by tropical fish from Moorea Island, French Polynesia
Researchers evaluated microplastic ingestion by four genera of adult tropical fish around Moorea Island, French Polynesia, finding microplastics in 21% of 133 digestive tracts examined. Ingested microplastic pieces averaged 1.25 per individual, with 70% of particles smaller than 0.3 mm, indicating widespread contamination of coral reef food webs.
Prey-size plastics are invading larval fish nurseries
Ocean surface sampling near nursery habitats for larval marine fish found that microplastic particles at the sea surface are now abundant at sizes matching the prey that larvae depend on for survival. This overlap in prey size and plastic particle size suggests that larval fish face a significant risk of accidentally ingesting plastics during their most vulnerable life stage.
Sources, distribution and fate of microfibres on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Widespread microdebris contamination was documented across the central Great Barrier Reef, with microfibres comprising 86% of detected particles and intake by coral reef fish being non-random with preferences for particular chemical compositions, shapes, and colors. The study identifies riverine input as a major source and demonstrates that fish are selectively ingesting certain microfiber types rather than consuming them passively.
The influences of spatial-temporal variability and ecological drivers on microplastic in marine fish in Hong Kong
Researchers found that over 57% of marine fish in Hong Kong waters contained microplastics, with higher abundance in fish from more polluted western waters during the wet season, and that omnivorous fish ingested significantly more microplastics than carnivorous fish regardless of collection location or season.
Microplastic contamination in coral reef fishes and its potential risks in the remote Xisha areas of the South China Sea
Coral reef fish in remote ocean regions were found to contain microplastics across multiple species and trophic levels, with abundance increasing in higher-trophic species suggesting biomagnification. The study provides baseline data from understudied remote reef ecosystems and frames microplastic ingestion as a threat to reef fish biodiversity.
Microplastics in zooplankton in the eastern Arabian Sea: The threats they pose to fish and corals favoured by coastal currents
Researchers found that zooplankton including copepods, chaetognaths, decapods, and fish larvae across six zones along India's western coast in the Eastern Arabian Sea accumulated microplastics predominantly as pellets (52%), with coastal currents implicated in dispersing contamination to fish and coral reef ecosystems.
Deposition characteristics of microplastics in coral reef fish with different feeding habits from the Xisha Islands Waters, South China Sea
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gills and gastrointestinal tracts of 96 coral reef fish from the South China Sea, finding that nearly 98% of sampled fish contained microplastics. Fibers were the most common shape, with most particles smaller than 1 mm, and the predominant polymers were PET, PE, and PP. The study found that herbivorous fish had higher microplastic content than omnivorous or carnivorous species, likely because they feed primarily on microplastic-polluted coral reefs.
Predicting microplastic dynamics in coral reefs: presence, distribution, and bioavailability through field data and numerical simulation analysis
Researchers combined field sampling at Australia's Lizard Island with numerical hydrodynamic modeling to map microplastic distribution across reef habitats and assess bioavailability to corals, fish, sponges, and other species. Sediment was the dominant accumulation zone, biota contained microplastics at concentrations reflecting feeding strategies, and model simulations predicted particle trajectories within the reef system.
Microplastics absent from reef fish in the Marshall Islands: Multistage screening methods reduced false positives
A multi-stage screening study of reef fish gut contents from the Marshall Islands found no microplastics in 97 fish across nine species, suggesting that apparent microplastics in prior studies may largely reflect contamination or misidentification rather than true ingestion.
Assessment of microplastic bioconcentration, bioaccumulation and biomagnification in a simple coral reef food web
Researchers assessed microplastic bioconcentration, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification across three trophic levels in a coral reef food web, including zooplankton, benthic crustaceans, and reef fish. The study suggests that microplastics accumulate differently depending on species and trophic position, providing important baseline data for understanding ecological risks of microplastic contamination in coral reef ecosystems.
Scleractinian corals incorporate microplastic particles: identification from a laboratory study
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.
Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in Coral Reefs at Penimbangan Waters
Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics in coral reef tissues and sediments at Penimbangan Beach, finding MPs in all 12 coral samples analyzed. Fiber and fragment types dominated, with polymers matching common fishing and packaging materials, reflecting local pollution inputs to the reef ecosystem.
Differential enrichment and physiological impacts of ingested microplastics in scleractinian corals in situ
Researchers found microplastics in scleractinian corals along the east coast of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, with average concentrations of 4.97 particles per square centimetre in coral tissue, alongside contamination in Tridacnidae, Trochidae, and fish intestines. The characteristics of microplastics in organisms differed from those in surrounding seawater and sediment, indicating selective enrichment during ingestion.
The Distribution and Impact of Microplastics on Coral Reefs: an Ecosystem Approach
This study examines the distribution and ecological impact of microplastics on coral reef ecosystems, providing a Ph.D.-level ecosystem approach to understanding how microplastic pollution affects reef health and biodiversity.
Ingestion and Depuration of Microplastics by a Planktivorous Coral Reef Fish, Pomacentrus amboinensis
Researchers exposed a coral reef planktivorous fish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics and found ingestion in all exposed fish, with most particles cleared within 48 hours of depuration, suggesting rapid gut turnover limits longer-term accumulation under realistic conditions.
The presence of microplastics in fishes of South Maldives
Researchers found microplastics in the gut, gills, and flesh of two fish species collected from South Maldives, with 80% of one species containing plastic particles, indicating widespread ingestion by reef fish in this remote island nation and potential transfer into the human food chain.
Exploring Microplastic Interactions with Reef-Building Corals Across Flow Conditions
Researchers examined how reef-building corals interact with microplastics under varying flow conditions, investigating whether active ingestion or passive adhesion dominates microplastic removal and which particle types and sizes are most readily captured by coral structures.
Larval Fish Habitat Brims with Plastic
Research shows that larval fish habitats in the ocean are heavily contaminated with microplastics, raising concern about early-life exposure for a life stage that is both ecologically critical and vulnerable. Microplastic overlap with larval fish habitat poses a risk to future fish populations.
Assessment of microplastic pollution in corals, seawater, and marine sediments in the Gulf of Thailand
Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence, abundance, and characteristics in coral, seawater, and sediment samples from two reef sites in the Gulf of Thailand, detecting microplastics in all coral samples at concentrations ranging from 0.24 to 2.60 particles per gram and finding spatial variability across reef species and sites.
Contamination of microplastics in tropical coral reef ecosystems of Sri Lanka
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across ten coral reef ecosystems in Sri Lanka, finding microplastics in corals, water, and sediments with fibers and fragments being the dominant types, representing a previously unquantified threat to tropical reef systems.
Reef‐building corals act as long‐term sink for microplastic
Coral reef structures were shown to act as long-term sinks for microplastics, with microplastics accumulating in reef framework interstices and sediments at higher concentrations than surrounding seawater, potentially contributing to the resolution of the missing plastic problem in ocean budgets.
Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment
Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercial fish caught from a natural estuarine environment and found microplastics in a significant proportion of individuals, documenting both occurrence rates and particle characteristics.