Nibblers aid coral recovery

The corals, situated within Bahamas marine reserves, are showing signs of a comeback after damage caused by a mix of warm-water bleaching and hurricane damage.

And, say researchers, it is a healthy fish population which is responsible for the improvement.

One creature in particular, the parrot fish, has done much to nibble away at seaweed. With that, the corals have been allowed to grow back without getting smothered.

A study conducted by the UK’s University of Exeter found marked differences between the waters of reserves and other waters in which fishing was prevalent .

Levels of weed in the fished areas were higher and corals there could not regenerate.

During analysis of ten sites over two-and-a-half years, coral cover increased by an average of 19 per cent in the marine reserves, and not at all in the other areas.

The study was funded by Britain’s National Environment Research Council and the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.

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