NATURE is full of surprises! One recent example came from a new American study that suggests that some fish that are coral predators can actually promote the well-being of these reefs... And it's all down to their excrement!
Coral is essential to the protection of marine ecosystems, but its health is threatened by various factors, including being eaten by other species.
However, some corallivorous fish, until now exclusively seen as coral predators that weaken reefs, could actually make a key contribution to their survival. For example, that's the case of the butterflyfish and the parrotfish.
Curiously, these species do bite the coral and potentially harm them, but they also provide these reefs with substances that promote their health. How? Through their poo!
That's right, the fecal deposits left by these fish are a source of "good" bacteria which become part of a cycle that enables the coral to thrive.
Meanwhile, fish that eat algae and detritus spread feces with pathogenic bacteria that can be harmful to the reefs.
This was the conclusion reached by US-based scientists, whose work was published this month in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
"Animal waste products are an important component of nutrient cycles and result in the trophic transmission of diverse microorganisms.
There is growing recognition that the feces of consumers, such as predators, may impact resource species, their prey, via physical effects and/or microbial activity," the study outlines.
The researchers conducted laboratory tests using fecal samples from several reef fish species. The scientists also wanted to verify if the "fresh" feces and those sterilized by heat produced the same amount of bacteria.
The analyses showed that in the case of algae and detritus-eating fish, fresh feces caused 4.2 times greater lesions on corals, compared to those from sterilized feces. The microbial activity found in colliavore feces caused fewer and smaller lesions.
"Testing how feces derived from animal species ... affect cohabiting organisms can inform agriculture, ecosystem management, and restoration," the authors conclude.
While the authors emphasize the beneficial effect of corallivorous species, they note that more research is needed to better understand how the feeding behaviors of these fish can affect coral health.
ETX Studio
Sat Apr 22 2023
![Coral-eating fish may not be that bad for reef health after all Coral-eating fish may not be that bad for reef health after all](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-07/81595826369_Coral.jpg)
Paradoxically, some coral predators help restore the well-being of the coral reefs they consume. How? It's all in their excrement. - ETX Studio
Tumpuan Isnin – 08 Julai 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
'Jeff' dinobat siput terpantas dunia, menang Kejohanan Dunia Lumba Siput
Tahun ini, siput bernama Jeff dinobatkan sebagai pemenang, menang saingan akhir dengan masa 4 minit dan 3 saat. Begitupun, kepantasan Jeff tidak dapat memadam rekod yang dibuat pada tahun 1995 oleh seekor siput bernama Archie.
![Pentadbiran Prabowo-Gibran dijangka perkukuh industri sawit Indonesia Pentadbiran Prabowo-Gibran dijangka perkukuh industri sawit Indonesia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720368598_TBPrabowo.jpg)
Pentadbiran Prabowo-Gibran dijangka perkukuh industri sawit Indonesia
Kerajaan baharu yang akan dipimpin oleh Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka dijangka memperkukuh daya saing produk minyak sawit sebagai komoditi strategik untuk pasaran domestik dan antarabangsa.
![Kanak-kanak lelaki maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam tasik Kanak-kanak lelaki maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam tasik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61706067730_TBgarisanpolis.jpg)
Kanak-kanak lelaki maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam tasik
Seorang kanak-kanak lelaki berusia sembilan tahun maut selepas terjatuh ke dalam tasik dipercayai ketika sedang mencari lokan di Taman Tasik Teratai Fasa 2 Serendah, Hulu Selangor.
Ribuan umat Islam zahir solidariti kepada Palestin di Shah Alam
Bertemakan Gaza Bangkit, program pada Ahad malam itu turut mengundang pendakwah dari Indonesia, Ustaz Abdul Somad Batubara untuk menyampaikan ceramah.
NGO, belia perlu ambil iktibar peristiwa hijrah - PM
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyeru pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan gerakan belia mengambil iktibar daripada peristiwa Hijrah Nabi Muhammad SAW untuk mengembalikan kegemilangan negara.
Kehadiran ATM di Timur Sabah berikan keyakinan masyarakat setempat
Kehadiran pasukan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) di Timur Sabah meningkatkan keyakinan masyarakat setempat serta merancakkan lagi pembangunan sektor pelancongan, ekonomi dan sosial di kawasan itu.
![Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/61703329565_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 7 Julai 2024.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 7 Julai 2024.
Enam cedera hari pertama Festival Larian Lembu di Sepanyol
Meskipun ada yang cedera, acara tersebut sentiasa mendapat perhatian dan tahun ini, ratusan orang mengejar enam ekor lembu jantan di bandar itu.