This project was only possible thanks to a fantastic collaboration. Huge thanks to Silvia Morgana, Martina Pierdomenico, Daniel Schar, and Joshua S. Madin, it was a pleasure working with you on this project!

So what does this mean?

Coral colonies with bulky, low-complexity morphologies trap more microplastics under natural exposure. These corals may act as passive sinks, with implications for particle retention and downstream reef contamination.

Corals with lower fractal dimension, higher sphericity, and lower compactness had higher MP densities on surface and tissue. Colony-level complexity better explained MP retention than fragment-level complexity.

MP loads were compartmentalized:
• 61% on surface
• 30% in tissue
• 9% in skeleton
Surface loads were significantly higher than tissue or skeleton.

We found mostly microplastic fragments (67%), with PVC and polyester dominating and between 0.1–1 mm in size.

We sampled 6 coral colonies with varying morphologies from Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawai‘i. We extracted microplastic particles in the lab and analyzed them via FTIR, and documented coral shape via photogrammetry and 3D scanning.

Yes to all of this! 😄

So, to put it simply, Let's stop adding more plastic to the environment to keep pollution levels low and bearable for corals! We still have a chance to act!

#ReuseReduceRecycle #StopPlasticPollution

We found that extreme microplastic concentrations have a disproportionately large effect on the physiology of the coral host. While the coral hosts mainly follow basic nonlinear dose-response patterns, their photosymbionts follow complex nonlinear dose-response patterns with thresholds.

We investigated the #concentration-dependent effects of a #microplastic mixture on the physiology of the #coral host and the photosynthetic efficiency of their #photosymbionts.

We exposed two coral species to different concentrations of a #microplastic mixture.

Massive shoutout to the students involved in this study Vanessa, Elisabeth, and Luisa at #JLUGiessen. Your hard work has been the heartbeat of the study!
#TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork

Why Does it Matter? 🌏 The species-specific responses highlight the complexity of microdebris impacts and the urgency to implement effective measures to mitigate major sources of pollution.

🧐Key Findings
- Fibers and tire wear had the strongest effects on coral physiology
- 📈 volume growth but 📉calcification
-📈photosynthetic efficiency in symbionts
- Single polymer had comparable, yet species-specific impacts
- Species-specific effects tied to feeding

🌊Equipped with pumps and filters, we created a dynamic water flow in our tanks where particles remained suspended in the water column throughout the entire 8-week experiment.

🔍 Objectives: 1. Assess effects on coral physiology. 2. Compare impacts of different microdebris and a single polymer treatment. 3. Identify species-specific responses by contrasting feeding reactions.

🧪Experimental Setup: Two coral species, Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata, were exposed to four microdebris types: [1] Plastic debris [2] Fibers from clothing [3] Tire wear, brake abrasion, varnish flakes and [4] Single polymer microplastics PE

I believe this was the fiddliest study we have ever done, maneuvering the forceps holding µm-sized particles to miniature tentacles. Kudos to the many patient students involved, Niklas, Chieh, Mareike and Vanessa, in this amazing team effort!