Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Pages: 113074-

Journal: Environmental Pollution

Volume number: 254

Issue number: B

ISSN: 0269-7491

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113074

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Coral reefs are increasingly affected by the consequences of global change such as increasing temperatures or pollution. Lately, microplastics (i.e., fragments < 5 mm) have been identified as another potential threat. While previous studies have assessed short-term effects caused by high concentrations of microplastics, nothing is known about the long-term effects of microplastics under realistic concentrations. Therefore, a microcosm study was conducted and corals of the genera Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites, and Heliopora were exposed to microplastics in a concentration of 200 particles L-1, relating to predicted pollution levels. Coral growth and health, as well as symbiont properties were studied over a period of six months. The exposure caused species-specific effects on coral growth and photosynthetic performance. Signs of compromised health were observed for Acropora and Pocillopora, those taxa that frequently interact with the particles. The results indicate elevated energy demands in the affected species, likely due to physical contact of the corals to the microplastics. The study shows that micro plastic pollution can have negative impacts on hermatypic corals. These effects might amplify corals' susceptibility to other stressors, further contributing to community shifts in coral reef assemblages. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Reichert, J., Arnold, A., Hoogenboom, M., Schubert, P. and Wilke, T. (2019) Impacts of microplastics on growth and health of hermatypic corals are species-specific, Environmental Pollution, 254(B), p. 113074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113074

APA Citation style: Reichert, J., Arnold, A., Hoogenboom, M., Schubert, P., & Wilke, T. (2019). Impacts of microplastics on growth and health of hermatypic corals are species-specific. Environmental Pollution. 254(B), 113074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113074