Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Qatar temporarily closes its airspace "for the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors."
Al Mayadeen: Israeli warplanes raid the outskirts of Al-Aishiya and Al-Mahmoudiya, Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Direct damage from Iranian bombing of "Israel" in one week is estimated at approximately 5 billion shekels (about $1.35 billion)
Unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis or justification: Putin
Shahid Beheshti University Public Relations: The Israeli aggression targeted a building belonging to Shahid Beheshti University with the aim of sabotaging Iran's cultural and scientific infrastructure
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Fordow nuclear facility was bombed once again, 24 hours after the US aggression.
Fars News Agency, citing informed sources: The Iranian Armed Forces used the Kheibar-Shekan, Emad, Ghadr, and Fattah missiles in their attacks on the Israeli entity today
Sirens sound from the occupied Golan Heights to Akka and Nahariya
Sirens sound again in the occupied Golan Heights and al-Jalil
Israeli media: Power outages reported in several settlements following a missile attack targeting an infrastructure facility

Study: Coral-eating fish feces may act as ‘probiotics’ for reefs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 14 Apr 2023 09:53
3 Min Read

Corallivorous fish were thought to be toxic to coral, but a new study reveals that their feces may be beneficial to reef health.

  • x
  • Study: Coral-eating fish feces may act as ‘probiotics’ for reefs
    A variety of corals form an outcrop on Flynn Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, Queensland, Australia on July 24, 2010 (Wikipedia)

According to new research, the feces of coral-eating fish may function as "probiotics" for reefs.

Originally, it was considered that corallivore (fish that consume coral, such as pufferfish, parrotfish, and butterfly fish) degraded marine surfaces. According to a study, they are part of a cycle that redistributes beneficial microorganisms that can help coral survive by consuming some sections of the coral and then pooing in various regions of the reef.

Dr. Carsten Grupstra, of Rice University, the lead author of the study explained that fish are often thought to be dangerous because they bite the corals. But it turns out that this isn't the complete picture.

Grupstra elaborated that "Corallivore feces contain many of the bacterial taxa that associate with healthy corals under normal conditions, potentially resulting in the natural dispersal of ‘coral probiotics’, analogous to fecal microbiota transplantation therapy in humans.”

This means that when some fish feces interact with coral colonies on the reef, the bacteria in the waste can be transported to a new coral colony and be advantageous to that new coral colony.

Related News

Great Barrier Reef at risk of second severe coral bleaching summer

Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffering 'widespread' bleaching

The study, which was published this week in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, looked at the various effects of grazer fish, which devour algae and debris. It was previously considered that they contributed to reef health, but the study discovered that grazer feces, which contain disease pathogens, may leave dead areas on corals known as lesions.

The scientists studied the impact of corallivore and grazer fish feces and discovered that grazers caused lesions or death in all coral pieces, but corallivore feces generated fewer and smaller lesions and seldom caused death. Furthermore, the corallivore feces helped disseminate beneficial microorganisms, which kept the reefs healthy.

The study sought to ascertain which types of bacteria were contributing to the observed effects on the coral, if the excrement included particular coral illnesses, and whether the results of the feces addition experiment could be transferred to other fish that ate coral, algae, and detritus.

Guptra stated that additional study in more natural circumstances was required, where factors like waves and other species may influence the results.

 “I think [at the moment] there hasn’t been a lot of research into fish species and how they affect corals, but this might be really important in coral reef ecology. We’ve seen some other labs publishing stuff about microbes in fish feces, so I really hope more people look into this because it’s interesting and could provide a new angle.”

Read more: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffering 'widespread' bleaching

  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Coral bleaching
  • coral reefs
  • Restoring corals

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Politics

Spain seeks immediate suspension of EU association pact with 'Israel'

Israeli settlers evacuate a building damaged in an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Tel Aviv streets ghostly; settlers flee under Iranian missile fire

Trump’s secret Iran strike uncovered in explosive CNN report
Politics

Behind the scenes: Trump's decision to strike Iran mapped - CNN

The oil tanker Palanca Rio arrives in Portland, Maine, the United States, Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (AP)
Economy

Oil prices spike as US-Israeli aggression on Iran sparks concerns

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS