Nature & Environment
Parrotfish Create 85 Percent of the Sand-Grade Sediment to Help Build Islands
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Apr 28, 2015 10:44 AM EDT
A new study reveals that parrotfish may be critical to coral reef island building. The findings are important to note as fishing practices are put in place.
Parrotfish, which are brightly colored, tropical fish, can be commonly found on healthy coral reefs. They play a pivotal role in producing the sands that are needed to build and maintain coral reef islands.
Reef islands are unique; they're made up entirely of sediment produced on their surrounding coral reefs. Despite being of vital importance to island development and future maintenance, the sources of the sediment that are most important to island building, and the rates at which this sediment is produced, has remained very poorly examined.
"Previous research has highlighted how important parrotfish are for the general health of coral reefs, specifically because they help to control algal growth and promote coral recruitment," said Chris Perry, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our study quantifies another fascinating aspect of the species-the major role they can play in producing the sediment necessary to build and sustain reef islands."
The scientists used survey and sedimentary data in order to explore the links between reef ecology and sediment production around the island of Vakkaru in the Maldives. They found that parrotfish are the major sand producers, generating more than 85 percent of the new sand-grade sediment produced on the outer reef flat each year.
During feeding, parrotfish grind up coral and after digestion, excrete the rest as sand. This makes parrotfish crucial for island-building.In fact, they create more than 85 percent of hte sand-grade element on the reefs around reef islands.
"Coral reef islands are considered to be among the most vulnerable landforms to climate change and especially to future sea-level rise," said Perry. "This study demonstrates the critical links that exist between the ecology of the reefs that surround these islands and the processes of sand supply. We provide evidence that protecting parrotfish populations, and the habitats on which they depend, is likely to be vital to ensuring a continued supply of the sediment from which these Maldivian reef islands are built."
The findings are published in the journal Geology.
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
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First Posted: Apr 28, 2015 10:44 AM EDT
A new study reveals that parrotfish may be critical to coral reef island building. The findings are important to note as fishing practices are put in place.
Parrotfish, which are brightly colored, tropical fish, can be commonly found on healthy coral reefs. They play a pivotal role in producing the sands that are needed to build and maintain coral reef islands.
Reef islands are unique; they're made up entirely of sediment produced on their surrounding coral reefs. Despite being of vital importance to island development and future maintenance, the sources of the sediment that are most important to island building, and the rates at which this sediment is produced, has remained very poorly examined.
"Previous research has highlighted how important parrotfish are for the general health of coral reefs, specifically because they help to control algal growth and promote coral recruitment," said Chris Perry, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our study quantifies another fascinating aspect of the species-the major role they can play in producing the sediment necessary to build and sustain reef islands."
The scientists used survey and sedimentary data in order to explore the links between reef ecology and sediment production around the island of Vakkaru in the Maldives. They found that parrotfish are the major sand producers, generating more than 85 percent of the new sand-grade sediment produced on the outer reef flat each year.
During feeding, parrotfish grind up coral and after digestion, excrete the rest as sand. This makes parrotfish crucial for island-building.In fact, they create more than 85 percent of hte sand-grade element on the reefs around reef islands.
"Coral reef islands are considered to be among the most vulnerable landforms to climate change and especially to future sea-level rise," said Perry. "This study demonstrates the critical links that exist between the ecology of the reefs that surround these islands and the processes of sand supply. We provide evidence that protecting parrotfish populations, and the habitats on which they depend, is likely to be vital to ensuring a continued supply of the sediment from which these Maldivian reef islands are built."
The findings are published in the journal Geology.
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone