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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Peer Review #1 of "Microplastics do not affect bleaching of Acropora cervicornis at ambient or elevated temperatures (v0.1)"
ClearPeer Review #2 of "Microplastics do not affect bleaching of Acropora cervicornis at ambient or elevated temperatures (v0.2)"
This peer review evaluates a study examining whether microplastic pollution affects bleaching in the coral Acropora cervicornis at ambient or elevated temperatures, contributing to peer scrutiny of research on microplastic interactions with climate-stressed coral reef ecosystems.
Peer Review #2 of "Microplastics do not affect bleaching of Acropora cervicornis at ambient or elevated temperatures (v0.1)"
This peer review provides a second independent evaluation of a study examining whether microplastic pollution affects bleaching in Acropora cervicornis coral at ambient or elevated temperatures, contributing to rigorous assessment of microplastic impacts on coral reef organisms.
Peer Review #1 of "Microplastics do not affect bleaching of Acropora cervicornis at ambient or elevated temperatures (v0.2)"
This peer review provides evaluation of a revised study on whether microplastic pollution affects coral bleaching in Acropora cervicornis, examining the research design and findings related to microplastic stress interactions with thermally stressed coral reefs.
Microplastics do not affect bleaching of Acropora cervicornis at ambient or elevated temperatures
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the blood of healthy adult volunteers, detecting particles in 17 of 22 individuals. Polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene were the most common polymers, confirming that microplastics can enter and circulate in the human bloodstream.
Species-specific impact of microplastics on coral physiology
Short-term experiments with two coral species (Acropora sp. and Seriatopora hystrix) exposed to microspheres and microfibres at in-situ concentrations and elevated temperature found species-specific physiological responses, with some coral species more sensitive to microplastic exposure than others.
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.
Bleaching and necrosis of staghorn coral (Acropora formosa) in laboratory assays: Immediate impact of LDPE microplastics
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.
Microplastics: impacts on corals and other reef organisms
This review examines the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on corals and reef organisms across all trophic levels. Researchers note that microplastics have been found in the water, sediments, and biota of every coral reef studied, but knowledge gaps remain for nanoplastic contamination due to detection limitations. The study highlights that few studies have examined how microplastic exposure interacts with other stressors like ocean acidification and rising temperatures, making comprehensive risk assessment difficult.
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.
Microplastics: impacts on corals and other reef organisms
This study reviewed the growing body of evidence on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect corals and other reef organisms. Researchers found that these plastic particles can impair coral feeding, growth, and reproduction, and may worsen the effects of other stressors like ocean warming. The review highlights that plastic pollution represents an additional serious threat to already vulnerable reef ecosystems worldwide.
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.
Physical and cellular impact of environmentally relevant microplastic exposure on thermally challenged Pocillopora damicornis (Cnidaria, Scleractinia)
Corals exposed to microplastics at levels currently found in the ocean showed more cellular damage when also stressed by warm water temperatures. The microplastics triggered inflammation-like responses and slowed down tissue repair in the corals. This matters because coral reefs are already under severe pressure from climate change, and microplastic pollution appears to make their situation worse.
Microplastics in the coral reefs and their potential impacts on corals: A mini-review
This mini-review summarizes the current state of microplastic pollution in coral reef ecosystems worldwide, covering abundance and distribution in seawater, sediments, and coral tissues. Researchers highlight how microplastics interact with corals through ingestion, adhesion, and tissue accumulation, potentially causing stress responses and bleaching. The study calls for more focused research on coral reef regions given the rapid increase in plastic consumption and the vulnerability of these critical ecosystems.
Research progress on the effects of microplastics on coral reef ecosystems
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.
Microplastic exposure under future oceanic conditions further threatens an endangered coral, Acropora cervicornis
Researchers exposed the threatened Caribbean coral Acropora cervicornis to microplastics under predicted future ocean conditions (acidification and warming) and found that combined stressors were more damaging than individual stressors. Growth rates declined and photosynthetic efficiency dropped most under the combined microplastic plus ocean warming and acidification treatment.
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.
A systematic review of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems: Abundance, distribution, toxicity, and future research directions
This systematic review examined 125 studies on microplastic pollution in coral reef ecosystems. Corals are ingesting microplastics, which can cause tissue damage, stress responses, and impaired growth. Since coral reefs support roughly 25% of all marine species and many fisheries that feed coastal communities, their contamination with microplastics has far-reaching consequences for ocean health and food security.
No short-term effect of sinking microplastics on heterotrophy or sediment clearing in the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata
The tropical coral Stylophora pistillata was exposed to sinking microplastics at concentrations closer to environmentally realistic levels than most prior studies, finding no significant short-term effects on sediment shedding behavior or heterotrophic feeding rates. The study suggests that corals may not be acutely impaired by microplastic concentrations typical of tropical reef environments, though longer-term effects remain unstudied.
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.
Future of coral bleaching research
Despite its title, this paper focuses on the science and policy of coral bleaching caused by ocean warming — not microplastic pollution. It outlines a research agenda for an NSF-funded coral bleaching research network, addressing bleaching thresholds, monitoring technology, and conservation policy. Microplastics are not a subject of the paper and it is not relevant to microplastic pollution research.
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.
Patterns, dynamics and consequences of microplastic ingestion by the temperate coral, Astrangia poculata
This study documented microplastic ingestion by the temperate coral Astrangia poculata in Rhode Island, finding that corals readily ingested plastic particles and retained them in their gastrovascular cavity for extended periods. The findings suggest that even non-tropical corals outside heavily polluted regions are regularly exposed to microplastics through their normal filter-feeding behavior.
Effects of Microplastics Exposure on the Acropora sp. Antioxidant, Immunization and Energy Metabolism Enzyme Activities
Researchers exposed Acropora coral fragments to microplastics and measured antioxidant enzyme activity, immune markers, and energy metabolism enzymes, finding that MP exposure elevated oxidative stress and suppressed immune function, with effects worsening at higher concentrations.
Coral reef attributes associated with microplastic exposure
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in ocean water and coral tissue samples from two coral species in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida, providing the first documentation of microplastics in corals from these locations. Most particles identified were cotton or polyester fibers. Surprisingly, higher microplastic levels in coral tissue were positively associated with coral density, rugosity, and percent coral cover, suggesting that microplastics may not have immediate adverse effects on reef health.