Microplastics
Microplastics in Our Reef Ecosystems
Overview
There is a plastic paradox that scientists have studied for decades. Billions of tons of plastic are being dumped into the ocean each year, yet water quality reports lower concentrations coming out than what is going in [1]. Recent studies believe coral reefs to be sinks storing a large portion of this litter- microplastics [2].
Microplastics are plastic filaments less than 5mm in size. They are the result of decaying plastic in the ocean through photodegradation. The small size of these plastics makes them commonly mistaken for food for marine organisms, though they may also bind to coral structures through surface adhesion. This integration of microplastics into marine life causes circular adverse effects in the food chain, threatening the growth and health of marine organisms. However, continued research is working to reduce microplastic concentrations in the ocean to protect 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity inhabiting coral reefs [3].
- ↑ Martin, Cecilia, et al. "Adhesion to Coral Surface as a Potential Sink for Marine Microplastics." Environmental Pollution, vol. 255, 2019. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113281.
- ↑ Reichert, Jessica, et al. "Reef‐building Corals Act as Long‐term Sink for Microplastic." Global Change Biology, vol. 28, no. 1, 2021, pp. 33–45. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15920.
- ↑ "Tiny Plastics, Big Threat: How Are Microplastics Impacting Our Coral Reefs?" US EPA, 30 Nov. 2021, www.epa.gov/sciencematters/tiny-plastics-big-threat-how-are-microplastics-impacting-our-coral-reefs.