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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Chronic effects of exposure to polyethylene microplastics may be mitigated at the expense of growth and photosynthesis in reef-building corals
ClearChronic effects of exposure to polyethylene microplastics may be mitigated at the expense of growth and photosynthesis in reef-building corals
Researchers exposed four species of reef-building corals to realistic concentrations of polyethylene microplastics for 11 months and measured the effects on their physiology. While the overall impact was low, some species showed reduced growth and changes in photosynthetic efficiency, suggesting the corals may be spending energy to cope with the particles. The study indicates that corals may have some ability to compensate for microplastic exposure, but increasing pollution levels could overwhelm these defenses.
Physiological stress response of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata exposed to polyethylene microplastics
Researchers exposed the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata to polyethylene microplastics at varying concentrations, finding that high concentrations reduced photosynthetic efficiency in coral symbionts and disrupted polar metabolites, indicating physiological stress from microplastic exposure.
Responses of reef building corals to microplastic exposure
Researchers exposed six species of small-polyp stony corals to polyethylene microplastics to characterize their responses and potential health effects. They found that corals interacted with the particles through ingestion and adhesion, with responses varying by species and coral morphology. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could affect reef-building corals, which are already under stress from climate change and ocean acidification.
Impact of micro-and nanoplastic contamination on reef-building corals
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.
Increasing microplastic concentrations have nonlinear impacts on the physiology of reef-building corals
Researchers exposed reef-building corals to increasing microplastic concentrations and found nonlinear effects on coral physiology, suggesting that low and high MP levels may have qualitatively different biological impacts. The findings complicate predictions of how coral reefs will respond as ocean MP pollution increases.
High Heterotrophic Plasticity of Massive Coral Porites pukoensis Contributes to Its Tolerance to Bioaccumulated Microplastics
This study found that massive coral Porites pukoensis responds to microplastic exposure by increasing heterotrophic feeding and shifting energetic metabolism, suggesting high metabolic plasticity helps this coral tolerate microplastic bioaccumulation in reef environments.
Survival at a cost: Corals endure microplastic and nanoplastic pollution by sacrificing energy reserves
Researchers exposed two coral species to microplastics and nanoplastics at concentrations comparable to those found in ocean environments and monitored their health over 10 weeks. They found that Stylophora pistillata was highly sensitive, experiencing progressive bleaching, reduced photosynthesis, and significant depletion of energy reserves including lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. While Turbinaria reniformis was more resilient, it still showed reduced photosynthesis and energy loss, indicating that even low concentrations of plastic pollution impose significant physiological costs on corals.
Ecological responses of coral reef to polyethylene microplastics in community structure and extracellular polymeric substances
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect coral reef communities, finding that microplastic exposure altered extracellular polymeric substance production and community structure in scleractinian coral, indicating ecological stress responses.
Microplastics impair growth in two atlantic scleractinian coral species, Pseudodiploria clivosa and Acropora cervicornis
Researchers tested the effects of microplastic exposure on two Atlantic coral species and found that both ingested microplastic particles, with retention times varying by particle size. During a 12-week chronic exposure, both coral species showed significantly impaired growth compared to controls. The study provides evidence that microplastics represent an additional stressor for already-threatened reef-building corals.
Increasing microplastic concentrations have nonlinear impacts on the physiology of reef-building corals
Researchers exposed two species of reef-building corals to different concentrations of a realistic microplastic mixture for 12 weeks and found that higher concentrations caused reduced growth, tissue death, and disrupted photosynthesis. The effects followed nonlinear patterns, meaning even moderate increases in microplastic levels could trigger disproportionate damage. Coral reef health matters for human communities because reefs support fisheries and protect coastlines.
Microplastics in corals: An emergent threat
A summary of recent research found that microplastics impair coral health through species-specific mechanisms including reduced growth, altered enzymatic activity, increased mucus production, disrupted coral-algae symbiosis, and bleaching — with effects observed even at concentrations below current environmental maxima.
Impacts of microplastics on reef-building corals: Disentangling the contribution of the chain scission products released by weathering
Researchers investigated how microplastics harm reef-building corals by separating the effects of physical contact from the chemical leachates released as plastics degrade. They found that while physical interaction with the particles caused immediate tissue damage, the chemical breakdown products from aged plastics created additional toxic effects. The study highlights that weathered microplastics pose a compound threat to coral health through both mechanical abrasion and chemical contamination.
Acute microplastic exposure raises stress response and suppresses detoxification and immune capacities in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis
Researchers exposed the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis to microplastics and found elevated stress responses along with suppressed immune and cellular defense capacities. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could compromise coral health by overwhelming stress pathways while simultaneously weakening the organisms' ability to cope with other environmental threats.
The comparative effects of chronic microplastic and sediment deposition on the scleractinian coral Merulina ampliata
Researchers exposed tropical coral fragments to PET microplastics and natural sediment particles over 28 days and found no meaningful difference in coral growth, symbiotic algae density, or chlorophyll levels between the two. While microplastic particles were physically incorporated into coral skeletons, the coral species studied appeared resilient at the tested concentrations, suggesting microplastics may not pose a greater threat to this species than ordinary sedimentation stress.
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.
Microplastic-mediated enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their toxic effects on coral symbionts: Evidence from oxidative stress and energy metabolic disturbance
This field study deployed polyethylene microplastics in coral reef waters to measure how they concentrate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, then exposed the coral Pocillopora acuta to the contaminated particles, finding that the combined exposure disrupted the coral-algae symbiosis through oxidative stress and energy metabolism disturbance.
Impacts of microplastics on growth and health of hermatypic corals are species-specific
Researchers exposed four genera of reef-building corals to realistic concentrations of microplastics over six months to assess long-term impacts. They found that effects on coral growth and health were species-specific, with some corals showing reduced calcification while others appeared unaffected. The study highlights that microplastic pollution may threaten certain coral species more than others, complicating predictions about reef resilience.
Assessment of ecotoxicological effects of small microplastics on Mediterranean corals.
Researchers investigated the ecotoxicological effects of micro- and nano-plastics on Mediterranean gorgonian corals using field-representative polymer compositions and concentrations, with particular focus on energy allocation to metabolism, growth, and reproduction, as well as transgenerational impacts. The study addressed a gap in tropical-dominated coral microplastics research by examining temperate Mediterranean species.
Physiological responses of Mediterranean octocorals to prolonged exposure to ecologically relevant microplastic concentrations
Researchers exposed two Mediterranean gorgonian coral species to a mixture of PET, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics for three months and assessed their physiological responses. They found that the corals ingested microplastics and showed measurable changes in respiration and feeding performance, though responses varied between species. The study provides evidence that even ecologically relevant concentrations of microplastics can affect the health of habitat-forming octocorals over extended exposure periods.
Interactive effects of microplastic pollution and heat stress on reef-building corals
Researchers tested the combined effects of microplastic pollution and heat stress on five reef-building coral species in controlled laboratory experiments. They found that while heat stress caused significant bleaching, tissue death, and reduced photosynthetic efficiency, microplastics alone had only minor effects at ambient temperatures, suggesting that climate change remains a far greater threat to coral reefs than microplastic pollution.
Microplastics inhibit the growth of endosymbiotic Symbiodinium tridacnidorum by altering photosynthesis and bacterial community
Researchers exposed a type of algae that lives inside coral to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles slowed cell growth and reduced photosynthesis. At higher concentrations, the microplastics clumped together with the algal cells and caused physical damage. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution could harm coral reef ecosystems by disrupting the essential relationship between corals and their symbiotic algae.
Evaluating physiological responses of microalgae towards environmentally coexisting microplastics: A meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of 52 studies found that microplastics inhibit microalgal growth and photosynthesis and induce oxidative damage, though microalgae can recover over time. Cyanobacteria are more vulnerable than green algae, and the relative size of microplastics to algal cells governs the mechanism of impact, while aged versus pristine microplastics have opposite effects on extracellular polymeric substance and microcystin production.
Interactive effects of microplastic pollution and heat stress on reef-building corals
This study tested the combined effects of microplastic exposure and heat stress on reef-building corals, finding that the combination caused more damage than either stressor alone. As climate change raises ocean temperatures, the simultaneous pressure from plastic pollution may accelerate coral reef decline.
Feeding responses of reef-building corals provide species- and concentration-dependent risk assessment of microplastic
This study quantitatively assessed how reef-building coral species feed on microplastic particles, comparing feeding responses across species and concentrations relative to natural food particles. Results showed species-specific and concentration-dependent ingestion, providing a more nuanced risk assessment framework for microplastic impacts on corals.