Mass mortality event of the giant barrel sponge sp.: population dynamics and size distribution in Koh Phangan, Gulf of Thailand.

Marine sponges are prominent organisms of the benthic coral reef fauna, providing important ecosystem services. While there have been increasing reports that sponges are becoming one of the dominant benthic organisms in some locations and ecoregions (. Caribbean), they can be impacted by changing environmental conditions.

A comprehensive approach to assess marine macro litter pollution and its impacts on corals in the Bangka Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

This is a comprehensive study showing the marine anthropogenic litter pollution within North Sulawesi, Indonesia. From an area of 2972 m that encompassed five sparsely populated locations, a total of 9421 litter items weighing 137 kg were collected. One location (Talisei North) contributed 50% of all collected litter items.

Shading by marine litter impairs the health of the two Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals Porites rus and Pavona cactus.

Marine litter is recognized as one factor affecting coral health. It causes shading, bleaching, physical damage, necrosis, and mortality. This study provides the first evidence that direct contact by plastic and cotton affects coral health within 60 days.