The dataset include ingestion data of microplastics by four Atlantic coral species. Ingestion data are reported as proportions from 0-1 from microplastics offered to each coral fragment. Additionally, the dataset include calyx measurements from all coral species. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Hankins, C., S. Raimondo, and D. Lasseigne. Microplastic ingestion by coral as a function of the interaction between calyx and microplastic size.. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 810: 152333, (2022).

The dataset include ingestion data of microplastics by four Atlantic coral species. Ingestion data are reported as proportions from 0-1 from microplastics offered to each coral fragment. Additionally, the dataset include calyx measurements from all coral species. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Hankins, C., S. Raimondo, and D. Lasseigne. Microplastic ingestion by coral as a function of the interaction between calyx and microplastic size.. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 810: 152333, (2022).

All data is combined into one excel file, with data separated into different spreadsheets. Data includes ingestion and egestion of various size microplastics in two Caribbean coral species, Pseudodiploria clivosa and Acropora cervicornis. Data also includes growth measurements (buoyant weight, tissue surface area, and calcification) of each species.

This published research assesses microplastic ingestion and retention by coral reef fish, which are important information to assess ecological risks of this emergent contaminant to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR, Australia). Fish were collected with SCUBA and nets at Lizard Island (North GBR), exposed to microplastics under laboratory conditions at Lizard Island Research Station, and processed (i.e., gastrointestinal tract chemically digested, filtered and analysed under microscope) to assess microplastic ingestion at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville (Queensland, Australia). Data was statistically analysed using general linear model in R, kinetics model, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests.

The data provided information on site collection such as GPS coordinates and depth for coral and water samples collected in the field. Data also provides measurement of coral tissue surface area of corals sampled for the field needed to standardize data. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Hankins, C., D. Lasseigne, S. Davis, K. Edwards, and J. Paul. Coral reef attributes associated with microplastic exposure. CORAL REEFS. Springer, New York, NY, USA, 44(1): 193-207, (2024).

The data explores various factors relating to fish tissue digestion to extract microplastics. The data contains fish physical data, microplastics recovery, and spectral correlation values. Data was generated through experimentation carried out at AIMS, Townsville in 2018,2019 and 2020. Data was analysed statistically to determine differences between treatments.

This collection presents experimental data and a literature meta-analysis to understand microplastic translocation to fish tissue and egestion rates. Juvenile barramundi (Lates calcifer) were exposed through their diet to polyamide (PA) fibres and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres and fragments (8–547 μm in length) to determine if shape, size, and polymer type influence microplastic translocation and egestion rates.

Microplastics are considered a marine contaminant of emerging concern and to accurately assess the ecological risk of microplastics, it is critical to understand the levels of contamination and relationship between organisms and their surrounding envrionment. The aim of this study was to understand the ecological risk of microplastics on coral reef organisms by assessing taxa representing three trophic levels in the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR). This included zooplankton, benthic crustaceans and reef fish, as well as environmental matrices they inhabit (i.e., mid-column seawater and benthic sediment) from two mid-shelf reef locations (i.e., Davies and Backnumbers) in the central GBR. Contamination was assessed following rigorous protocols and analysed to determine levels of microplastics in each matrix. Microplastics were found in all matrices investigated, with similar polymers, sizes, colours and shapes across all trophic levels and environmental matrices. In contrast, contamination varied up the trophic level, and although microplastics were concentrating in organisms, there was no evidence for microplastics magnifying up the food web. However, given the heterogeneity of microplastics abundant within the marine environment, it is impossible to ignore trophic transfer as a prominant pathway of exposure from lower to higher trophic levels.