Global Patterns and Variability in Coral Responses to Plastic Pollution.

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Ecology

Background:

• Plastic pollution is a growing threat to coral reefs globally.
• Ecological impacts of plastic on corals are not well understood.
• Existing research is fragmented across different spatial and experimental contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze coral responses to plastic pollution.
• To synthesize findings from peer-reviewed studies published between 2011 and early 2025.
• To identify key factors influencing coral vulnerability to plastic debris.

Main Methods:

• Conducted systematic literature searches across major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar).
• Screened 243 publications, including 38 field surveys and 65 laboratory studies, with 23 contributing to meta-analysis.
• Performed moderator analyses to investigate the influence of factors like polymer type, temperature, and geographic region.

Main Results:

• Plastic debris is frequently detected in corals, but biological responses are highly heterogeneous (I² > 99%).
• Laboratory studies showed polymer type significantly affects coral responses; exposure duration had no significant effect.
• Field studies indicated geographic region as a major source of variability, linked to local pollution and reef conditions.
• Tissue damage and increased disease susceptibility were common impacts associated with plastic exposure.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps exist in methodological consistency for studying plastic-coral interactions.
• Standardized, ecologically relevant research approaches are crucial for understanding plastic pollution impacts.
• Effective coral reef conservation requires improved waste management and coordinated research frameworks addressing context-dependent coral responses.