Researchers found corals in the Great Barrier Reef are actually munching on plastic, and the unhealthy snacks could have deadly side effects.

This rampant approach to feeding makes such corals especially vulnerable to pollution, said researchers. The coral's stomach can potentially fill with indigestible plastics, leading to the creature's death.

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"Corals are non-selective feeders and our results show that they can consume microplastics when the plastics are present in seawater. If microplastic pollution increases on the Great Barrier Reef, corals could be negatively affected as their tiny stomach-cavities become full of indigestible plastic," said Mia Hoogenboom, a Chief Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University.

To determine the impact of these pollutants, a team of researchers placed corals from the Great Barrier Reef into water contaminated with microscopic plastic fragments. After only two nights they observed the corals had consumed the plastic particles.

A closer look revealed the plastics were deep inside the coral polyps and wrapped in digestive tissue. Researchers are concerned the plastic could reduce the coral's ability to digest its actual food source.

The research team also analyzed the impact of these microplastics by sampling waters near inshore reefs and around the Great Barrier Reef itself. In the future, researchers hope to further determine the impact of the plastic on coral health.

Hoogenboom added they're also investigating if fish on coral reefs eat plastics, and whether plastic consumption influences fish growth and survival.

The new study on plastic-eating corals was published online in the journal Marine Biology.

TagsGreat Barrier Reef, Coral reef, reefs, Ocean, small plastic, ocean pollution