Tiny plastic pellets, like the pellets in the image, enter marine ecosystems through accidental spillage or by the decomposition of plastic wastes.

How do these pellets affect marine ecosystems?
A) Though harmless, these pellets spoil the natural beauty of the ecosystem.
B) They sink to the bottom of the seafloor and form the foundations of extensive coral reefs.
C) They are consumed by fish and marine mammals and block the digestive systems of these organisms.
D) They degrade quickly on coming in contact with the salt water, affecting the quality of the water.