Degradation & microplastics Dec2018 data to upload.xlsx

Dataset for: McCormick MI, Chivers DP, Ferrari MCO, Blandford MI, Nanninga GB, Richardson C, Fakan EP, and Allan BJM. Submitted. Microplastic exposure interacts with habitat degradation to affect behaviour and survival of juvenile fish in the field.I single Excel datafile Abstract: Here we explore how the dual threat of habitat degradation and microplastic exposure may affect the behaviour and survival of coral reef fish in the field. Fish were caught prior to settlement and pulse fed polystyrene microplastic six times over four days, then placed in the field on live or dead-degraded coral patches. Exposure to microplastics or dead coral led fish to be bolder, more active and stray further from shelter compared to control fish. Effect sizes indicated that plastic exposure had a greater effect on behavior than degraded habitat and we found no evidence of synergistic effects. This pattern was also displayed in their survival in the field. Our results highlight that the reduction of microplastic in the environment will be a useful management strategy, since minimising microplastic intake by fishes will work concurrently with reef restoration strategies to enhance the resilience of coral reef communities