First detection of microplastics in reef-building corals from a Maldivian atoll.

Autor: Raguso C; Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy., Saliu F; Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.saliu@unimib.it., Lasagni M; Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy., Galli P; Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy; MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Maldives., Clemenza M; Dipartimento di Fisica 'G. Occhialini', University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milano, Italy; INFN Sezione di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milano, Italy., Montano S; Earth and Environmental Science Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy; MaRHE Center (Marine Research and High Education Center), Magoodhoo Island, Faafu Atoll, Maldives.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Marine pollution bulletin [Mar Pollut Bull] 2022 Jul; Vol. 180, pp. 113773. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 May 24.
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113773
Abstrakt: The presence of microplastics in the world's oceans and their effects on marine habitats are highly concerning. As suspension-feeders, corals are very exposed to microplastics, compromising the health of coral reef ecosystems. In this study we surveyed for the first time the presence of microplastics in Maldivian reef-building corals. Aiming to determine the influence of exposure and depth on microplastic distribution, analyses were carried out on 38 individuals belonging to three different species. 58% of the investigated colonies resulted contaminated with particles within the 25-150 μm size range. The maximum concentration was encountered in a Pocillopora verrucosa colony sampled from a shallow inner reef (8.9 particles/g of coral). No significant differences in microplastic concentration were observed between different depths, exposures, sites and species. Overall, this study confirmed microplastic presence in coral reefs of the Maldivian archipelago including foundation species.
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Databáze: MEDLINE
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