Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics exhibit toxic effects on the widespread coral symbiotic Cladocopium goreaui

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics are highly toxic to Cladocopium goreaui, an algae species that corals depend on for survival. Larger microplastic particles nearly stopped the algae from reproducing and damaged their ability to photosynthesize. Since these symbiotic algae are essential to coral reef health, microplastic pollution could contribute to coral reef decline.

2025 Environmental Research 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics impair the photosynthetic capacities of Symbiodiniaceae and promote coral bleaching

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics at ecologically relevant concentrations impaired the photosynthetic capacity of Symbiodiniaceae algae and promoted coral bleaching, demonstrating that nanoplastic pollution poses a direct threat to coral-symbiont stability.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic exposure represses the growth of endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Cladocopium goreaui in culture through affecting its apoptosis and metabolism

The coral symbiont alga Cladocopium goreaui was exposed to polystyrene microplastics for one week, resulting in reduced cell density and size, increased oxidative stress markers, and elevated apoptosis indicators. The findings suggest microplastics disrupt the physiology of reef-building coral symbionts, with implications for coral health.

2019 Chemosphere 108 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of microplastics and nano-plastics to coral-symbiotic alga (Dinophyceae Symbiodinium): Evidence from alga physiology, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics and multi-omics

Researchers studied how microplastics and nanoplastics damage Symbiodinium, the algae that live inside coral and keep reefs alive. Even at concentrations found in the real environment, the plastic particles disrupted photosynthesis, caused oxidative stress, and triggered metabolic problems in the algae. Since the breakdown of this coral-algae partnership leads to coral bleaching, microplastic pollution could threaten the reef ecosystems that support fisheries and coastal communities worldwide.

2024 Water Research 19 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025
Article Tier 2

Response of coral reef dinoflagellates to nanoplastics under experimental conditions

Researchers exposed symbiotic dinoflagellates from coral reefs to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that cell growth and aggregation were significantly reduced after 10 days. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could harm the tiny algae that are essential to coral reef health, with potential consequences for reef ecosystems.

2020 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Environmental Pollution 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Dual drive acute lethal toxicity of methylene blue to Daphnia magna by polystyrene microplastics and light

This review summarizes experimental evidence on the effects of microplastics on coral reef ecosystems, covering physical clogging of polyp tentacles, interference with feeding, and smothering of recruit settlement surfaces. Microplastics are found to act in concert with thermal stress and ocean acidification to threaten reef health.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentration dependent toxicity of microplastics to marine microalgae

Researchers exposed the marine microalga Chlorella sp. to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L, finding that even low concentrations inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis, while higher concentrations caused more pronounced oxidative stress.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics elicit an immune-agitative state in coral

Researchers exposed coral to polystyrene microparticles and used lipid profiling to assess the health effects. The study found that even near environmentally relevant concentrations triggered immune activation responses, altered membrane lipid composition, and compromised the photoprotective capacity of symbiotic algae. Evidence indicates that realistic levels of microplastic pollution can disrupt coral physiology and potentially weaken reef resilience.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of micro-plastic particles on coral reef foraminifera

Three-week exposure experiments on two species of symbiont-bearing foraminifera found that polystyrene microplastics disrupted isotopic signatures, photosynthesis, and growth in these ecologically important marine protists.

2024 Scientific Reports 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Bisphenol A leachate from polystyrene microplastics has species-specific impacts on scleractinian corals

Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics and the chemical bisphenol A that leaches from them affect two species of reef-building corals. They found that microplastics alone caused minimal harm, but bisphenol A leachate significantly damaged one coral species by reducing its photosynthetic ability and tissue health, while the other species was unaffected. The study demonstrates that chemical leachates from degrading plastics, not just the particles themselves, can be a major driver of harm to marine life.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics impacts in seven flagellate microalgae: Role of size and cell wall

Seven marine flagellate microalgae species were incubated with 1-micrometer polystyrene microplastics at 10 mg/L, revealing that cell size and the presence of a cell wall strongly influenced the degree of microplastic-induced physiological and growth effects across species.

2021 Environmental Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2017 Environmental Pollution 291 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic combined with Cr(III) on apoptosis and energy pathway of coral endosymbiont

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics combined with chromium affected coral endosymbiont density, chlorophyll content, and key enzymes involved in apoptosis and energy metabolism, revealing compounded stress on reef-building corals.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effect and the mechanisms of colored microplastics containing inorganic pigments on Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers compared the toxicity of red-pigmented polyethylene microplastics containing cadmium-based pigments with colorless microplastics on the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The colored microplastics inhibited cell growth by 53% compared to only 23% for colorless particles, with the enhanced toxicity attributed to the release of toxic heavy metal pigments, suggesting that colored microplastics pose greater ecological risks than commonly studied colorless ones.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Environmental Pollution 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Do microplastics affect the zoanthid Zoanthus sociatus?

Scientists exposed the zoanthid coral Zoanthus sociatus to polystyrene microplastics and observed biochemical stress responses including oxidative damage and reduced energy reserves, providing evidence that non-scleractinian corals are also vulnerable to microplastic pollution.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 65 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

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.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of acute microplastic exposure on physiological parameters in Tubastrea aurea corals

Researchers exposed the coral species Tubastrea aurea to acute concentrations of PVC microplastics and measured physiological responses. They found that microplastic exposure triggered stress responses including changes in protein content, oxidative stress markers, and energy metabolism in the corals. The study provides early evidence that microplastics can disrupt the physiology of azooxanthellate corals, which lack symbiotic algae and rely entirely on particle feeding.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingested microplastics impair the metabolic relationship between the giant clam Tridacna crocea and its symbionts

Researchers found that microplastic ingestion disrupted the symbiotic relationship between the giant clam Tridacna crocea and its photosynthetic zooxanthellae, reducing photosynthate transfer to the host and impairing clam growth and metabolic function in coral reef ecosystems.

2022 Aquatic Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2018 Environmental Pollution 286 citations