Keiko Wilkins is originally from Ohio where she received both her B.S. and M.S degrees in Biology from Miami University (Oxford, OH) with a focus on freshwater zooplankton ecology. She now currently resides in Honolulu, HI as a PhD student within the marine biology graduate program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Her research explores the effects of microplastics and their associated-chemicals on coral reef health, survival, and reproduction. She is also a 2022 NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar exploring corals eating microplastics within the three NOAA National Marine Sanctuary protected areas within the Pacific Island Region: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary of American Sāmoa.

Outside of research, she works for BWEEMS as the membership management and program coordinator as well as a co-chair for the North American Lake Management Society's: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion program. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, completing a jigsaw puzzle and taking underwater photos.

Microplastic pollution is a stressor of concern to coral reefs which are already threatened by additional global and local anthropogenic stressors. The effects of ingesting microplastics alone on corals have been well studied, but the effects of their associated chemicals have been understudied, despite the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may impact reproduction and development. This study investigated the effects of both microplastic particles and leachate on two key reproductive stages in corals: fertilization and settlement. In the fertilization assay, gamete bundles were exposed to either one of four types of recently manufactured, virgin microspheres (nylon, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, or low density polyethylene) at three concentrations (50, 100, or 200 particles/L) or microplastic leachates, presumably including plastic additives from these microspheres. While microplastic particles alone did not negatively affect fertilization, plastic leachate significantly reduced fertilization rates in some treatments. Although 17 fatty acids were detected, neither their quantity nor composition correlated with observed declines in fertilization, suggesting that fertilization effects seen may not be representative of underlying molecular level effects. In a parallel experiment, M. capitata and the brooding species harbor Porites larvae were exposed to the same leachate treatments for seven days to document survival and development. Both survival and settlement were impacted in species-specific, polymer-specific and concentration dependent ways with some treatments inhibiting settlement while others encouraged it. These findings provide evidence that microplastic leachate negatively affects multiple early life stages, with implication for population persistence and reef replenishment. Addressing plastic pollution is therefore critical to safeguarding these ecosystems.