scholarly journals Peer Review #2 of "Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia (v0.2)"

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Fringing Reef

scholarly journals Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Connors
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
The South ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Fringing Reef ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Oceanic Gyres ◽  
First Time ◽  
Negatively Buoyant

Coral reef ecosystems of the South Pacific are extremely vulnerable to plastic pollution from oceanic gyres and land-based sources. To describe the extent and impact of plastic pollution, the distribution of both macro- (>5 mm) and microplastic (plastic < 5 mm) of the fringing reef of an isolated South Pacific island, Mo’orea, French Polynesia was quantified. Macroplastic was found on every beach on the island that was surveyed. The distribution of this plastic was categorized by site type and by the presence of Turbinaria ornata, a common macroalgae on Mo’orea. Microplastics were discovered in the water column of the fringing reef of the island, at a concentration of 0.74 pieces m−2. Additionally, this study reports for the first time the ingestion of microplastic by the corallimorpha Discosoma nummiforme. Microplastics were made available to corallimorph polyps in a laboratory setting over the course of 108 h. Positively and negatively buoyant microplastics were ingested, and a microplastic particle that was not experimentally introduced was also discovered in the stomach cavity of one organism. This study indicates that plastic pollution has the potential to negatively impact coral reef ecosystems of the South Pacific, and warrants further study to explore the broader potential impacts of plastic pollution on coral reef ecosystems.

scholarly journals Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Janice Connors
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Reef Environment ◽  
Fringing Reef ◽  
Coral Reef Environment ◽  
Time Frames ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Plastic pollution has been recognized as a major pollutant of the open ocean, but the extent and impact of plastic pollution on the coral reef environment has yet to be fully understood. In this study, the distribution of both macro- (>5mm) and micro- plastic (<5mm) of a typical coral reef ecosystem— the fringing reef of an isolated South Pacific island, Mo’orea, French Polynesia—was quantified. During the course of the study, macroplastic was found on every beach on the island, and distribution of plastic was categorized by site type and the presence of Turbinaria oranata, a common macroalgae of Mo’orea. Microplastic (plastic pieces <5mm) was found in the water column of the fringing reef of the island, at a concentration of 0.74 plastic pieces per square meter. To test the impact on coral reef organisms of the plastic pollution found in the fringing reef, microplastic was exposed to a species of soft coral, Discosoma spp.in a laboratory setting. The resilience of Discosoma spp.in fluctuating temperatures and rising CO2 levels is well understood, but the effect of plastic pollution on Discosoma spp. and other corallimorphs has never before been analyzed. This study reports for the first time the ingestion of microplastic by the soft coral Discosoma spp. Positively buoyant and negatively buoyant microplastic were both ingested over different time frames. In addition, wild (not experimentally introduced) microplastic was found in the stomach cavity of the organism. These findings indicate that plastic debris are being ingested by Discosoma spp. and may impair the health of this prevalent coral reef organism.

scholarly journals Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Janice Connors
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Soft Coral ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Reef Environment ◽  
Fringing Reef ◽  
Coral Reef Environment ◽  
Time Frames ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Plastic pollution has been recognized as a major pollutant of the open ocean, but the extent and impact of plastic pollution on the coral reef environment has yet to be fully understood. In this study, the distribution of both macro- (>5mm) and micro- plastic (<5mm) of a typical coral reef ecosystem— the fringing reef of an isolated South Pacific island, Mo’orea, French Polynesia—was quantified. During the course of the study, macroplastic was found on every beach on the island, and distribution of plastic was categorized by site type and the presence of Turbinaria oranata, a common macroalgae of Mo’orea. Microplastic (plastic pieces <5mm) was found in the water column of the fringing reef of the island, at a concentration of 0.74 plastic pieces per square meter. To test the impact on coral reef organisms of the plastic pollution found in the fringing reef, microplastic was exposed to a species of soft coral, Discosoma spp.in a laboratory setting. The resilience of Discosoma spp.in fluctuating temperatures and rising CO2 levels is well understood, but the effect of plastic pollution on Discosoma spp. and other corallimorphs has never before been analyzed. This study reports for the first time the ingestion of microplastic by the soft coral Discosoma spp. Positively buoyant and negatively buoyant microplastic were both ingested over different time frames. In addition, wild (not experimentally introduced) microplastic was found in the stomach cavity of the organism. These findings indicate that plastic debris are being ingested by Discosoma spp. and may impair the health of this prevalent coral reef organism.

scholarly journals Cryptofaunal diversity in fringing reef rhodoliths

Coral Reefs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Abrecht ◽  
Viktor Nunes Peinemann ◽  
Ara Kevork Yazaryan ◽  
Madeline Kestler ◽  
Braden Charles DeMattei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
French Polynesia ◽  
Decapod Crustaceans ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Fringing Reef ◽  
North Shore ◽  
Preferred Habitat ◽  
Fringing Reefs ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractRhodolith distribution, morphology, and cryptofauna have been minimally studied on fringing reefs. We present the first study to examine both rhodolith distribution and associated cryptofauna in a tropical fringing reef, located along the microtidal, wave-dominated north shore of Moorea, French Polynesia. We find higher abundances of larger, rounder, and more branching rhodoliths in locations where longer waves impact the fringing reef. Among 1879 animals extracted and identified from 145 rhodoliths, ophiuroids, polychaetes, decapod crustaceans, and gastropods are most abundant, with a wide range of additional taxa contributing to diversity. Large and branching rhodoliths contain the greatest number and diversity of cryptofaunal organisms and are the preferred habitat of rigid-bodied, non-burrowing forms. Overall, exposure to waves entering the lagoon through passes appears to be a critical determinant of rhodolith abundance, morphotype, and in turn cryptofaunal composition in fringing reef habitats.

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