The effect of plastic debris attachment to the health of branching corals in Kelapa Dua Island, Thousand Islands

Abstract

Plastic marine debris are a potential threat to the life of marine organisms such as corals. This study aimed to analyze the effect of different plastic waste attachments on the bleaching rate and the health of branching corals at Kelapa Dua Island. Branching coral colonies consisted of 15 fragments of Porites cylidrica at the water depth of 80-90 cm, then treated with plastic waste (control, clear plastic, sack plastic, packaging plastic, and black plastic) for four days. Determination of color changes in corals was determined using Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 and Image j software to obtain the area of the discoloration. The treatment with black plastic became most impactful, with a discoloration area of 5.33 ± 0.48 cm2 and a healthy percentage of 73.62 ± 2.00%. Results of the linear regression between coral discoloration rate and light intensity showed a negative correlation, with r = -0.77 and R2 = 0.59, then between the percentage of coral health and light intensity showed a positive correlation, with r = 0.83 and R2 = 0.69. These results indicated that the decrease in light intensity due to the covered plastic debris affected the discoloration rate and the health percentage of branching coral.

Physiological Responses of Pocillopora acuta and Porites lutea Under Plastic and Fishing Net Stress

“…Lamb et al (2018) found more than 11 billion plastic items entangled with coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific, and suggested that coral disease outbreaks increase when corals are entangled with plastic. Decreased light intensity from being covered by plastic debris has been documented to effect branching coral health and lead to coral bleaching (Muhammad et al, 2021). Field research in Kho Tao, Thailand, found that coral underneath a fishing net suffered the most damage (Valderrama Ballesteros et al, 2018).…”