Microplastics (MPs) are one of the leading pollutants on the earth's surface and are found almost everywhere, including in aquatic environments. Microplastic pollution (MPP) on the oceanic surface is causing widespread concern among scientists and researchers worldwide due to its life-threatening impact on underwater living organisms. Excessive production of MP components and unscientific disposal caused severe issues for the marine ecosystem. Invertebrate corals and coral reefs in tropical and sub-tropical countries have suffered immensely from MP pollution and have shown a gradually decreasing trend of coral reef concentration on the oceanic surface. The bioaccumulation and ingestion of MP debris by the coral polyps have hindered the growth of the corals and forced coral bleaching. Most of the previous studies on MP have focused on the sources and distribution of MP. However, little is known about coral bleaching and its adverse impacts on the coral ecosystem. Therefore, the present review focuses on identifying sources, their global distribution, and the adverse effects of MP on the marine ecosystem, with particular reference to corals and coral reef ecosystems. The current study's findings highlighted that only a few countries and a few researchers worldwide have worked with MP pollution and its life-threatening impact on coral ecosystems. Earlier researchers showed fish communities' vulnerability to MPP in the aquatic environment. Hence, the present work recommends researching MPP and the worldwide threats to coral ecosystems. Apart from this, the production of MP should be minimized after the identification of MP sources, regular monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, recycling of MP elements, and strict government policies to slow down the dreadful impact of MP on coral reef ecosystems and marine environments.

微塑料 (MP) 是地球表面的主要污染物之一，几乎无处不在，包括水生环境中。海洋表面的微塑料污染（MPP）因其对水下生物体的生命威胁而引起全世界科学家和研究人员的广泛关注。MP成分的过量生产和不科学的处置给海洋生态系统带来了严重的问题。热带和亚热带国家的无脊椎动物珊瑚和珊瑚礁受到MP污染的严重影响，并呈现出海洋表面珊瑚礁浓度逐渐减少的趋势。珊瑚虫对 MP 碎片的生物累积和摄入阻碍了珊瑚的生长并迫使珊瑚白化。以往对MP的研究大多集中在MP的来源和分布上。然而，人们对珊瑚白化及其对珊瑚生态系统的不利影响知之甚少。因此，本次审查的重点是确定MP的来源、其全球分布以及MP对海洋生态系统的不利影响，特别是对珊瑚和珊瑚礁生态系统的不利影响。目前的研究结果强调，全世界只有少数国家和少数研究人员致力于研究 MP 污染及其对珊瑚生态系统造成的威胁生命的影响。早期研究人员表明鱼类群落对水生环境中 MPP 的脆弱性。因此，目前的工作建议研究 MPP 和全球范围内对珊瑚生态系统的威胁。除此之外，在确定MP来源、定期监测水生生态系统、回收MP元素以及采取严格的政府政策以减缓MP对珊瑚礁生态系统和海洋环境的可怕影响后，应尽量减少MP的生产。