Secondary Microplastics Disrupt Early Coral Development: Impacts on Brooding and Broadcast-Spawning Species
Microplastics are pervasive in marine ecosystems and have been shown to affect a range of marine organisms, including corals. These particles can develop biofilms, facilitating the transport of pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms. Although the effects of primary microplastics on adult corals ha...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/468 |
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| Summary: | Microplastics are pervasive in marine ecosystems and have been shown to affect a range of marine organisms, including corals. These particles can develop biofilms, facilitating the transport of pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms. Although the effects of primary microplastics on adult corals have been extensively studied, little is known about the impacts of secondary microplastics on early life stages. This study investigated (1) the effects of different abundances of secondary microplastics on the early development of <i>Orbicella faveolata</i>; (2) the influence of fibers and fragments on the larval settlement of <i>Acropora palmata</i>; and (3) the effects of the microplastic size, abundance, and biofilm presence on the settlement of <i>Favia fragum</i>. For <i>O. faveolata</i>, fertilization, embryogenesis, and settlement were all impaired by fragments, with embryonic development showing a 25.9% reduction in viability. Larval development was unaffected, but post-settlement survival declined by 35.8% with exposure to fibers and fragments. For <i>A. palmata</i>, settlement was reduced by fragments, while for <i>F. fragum</i>, only 2–4 mm fragments significantly decreased settlement rates. This study contributes to the knowledge of the effect of microplastics on the early development of corals, providing valuable information to improve strategies to control microplastic pollution. |
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| ISSN: | 1424-2818 |