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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Responses of reef building corals to microplastic exposure
ClearImpact 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.
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.
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.
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.
Common types of microdebris affect the physiology of reef-building corals
Researchers tested how several common types of microdebris, including microplastic fibers, fragments, and other small particles, affect reef-building corals. They found that exposure to mixed debris types caused greater stress responses in the corals than single-polymer exposures typically used in lab studies. The findings suggest that real-world microdebris pollution, which involves multiple materials at once, may be more harmful to coral reef health than previous single-material experiments have indicated.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
Common types of microdebris affect the physiology of reef-building corals
Researchers exposed two coral species to four types of microdebris — plastic fragments, synthetic clothing fibers, tire/brake wear particles, and pure microplastic beads — for eight weeks in a lab. Clothing fibers and tire wear particles caused the strongest harm, reducing calcification in one coral species and disrupting normal physiology in both. The study shows that real-world microdebris pollution, which is always a mixture of materials, can stress reef-building corals in ways that studies using single plastic types may underestimate.
First detection of microplastics in reef-building corals from a Maldivian atoll
Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in reef-building corals from a Maldivian atoll, examining 38 coral colonies across three species. They found that 58% of colonies contained microplastic particles in the 25-150 micrometer size range. The study provides initial evidence that even remote coral reef ecosystems in the Indian Ocean are affected by microplastic pollution, raising concerns about potential impacts on coral health.
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.
Chronic 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.
Chronic effects of exposure to polyethylene microplastics may be mitigated at the expense of growth and photosynthesis in reef-building corals
This study assessed the chronic effects of polyethylene microplastic exposure on reef-building corals, finding evidence that long-term exposure may be partially mitigated by corals at the cost of reduced growth and photosynthetic efficiency. The findings suggest corals can acclimate but at a significant physiological price.
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.
Investigating the composition and distribution of microplastics surface biofilms in coral areas
Researchers investigated the composition and distribution of microbial biofilms on microplastic surfaces collected from coral reef areas. The study found that microplastics harbor distinct microbial communities including potentially pathogenic species, raising concerns that microplastic pollution may contribute to coral disease by serving as vectors for harmful microorganisms in reef ecosystems.
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.
Microplastic pollution in tropical coral reef ecosystems from the coastal South China Sea and their impacts on corals in situ
Researchers studied microplastic contamination in coral reef ecosystems off southern China, finding plastic particles in seawater, sediment, corals, shellfish, and fish. Different coral species absorbed microplastics at different rates, with smaller particles penetrating deeper into coral tissue. Since coral reefs support fisheries and coastal communities, this contamination could affect both marine ecosystems and the seafood that people eat.
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.
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.