Coral Reefs Flourish Thanks to … Fish Pee?
By Laura Geggel, Senior Writer | August 17, 2016 12:50pm ET
Coral Reefs Flourish Thanks to … Fish Pee?
How much do fish pee? Putting fish, such as this high-hat fish, in a plastic bag helped scientists figure that out.
Credit: Jacob Allgeier
Getting peed on is a good thing, at least for coral reefs, scientists have found.
When fish let loose, they release phosphorus into the water. This, combined with nitrogen excreted from their gills, is crucial for coral reef survival and growth, according to recent studies.
Now, new research shows just how much this "fishy waste" matters. When scientists studied areas with heavy fishing, they found that almost half of the key nutrients needed to maintain a healthy reef ecosystem were missing.
http://www.livescience.com/55792-fish-pee-helps-coral-reefs.html
