Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 13 January 1961:
Vol. 133. no. 3446, pp. 98 - 99
DOI: 10.1126/science.133.3446.98
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Transport of Calcareous Fragments by Reef Fishes

John E. Bardach 1

1 Department of Fisheries, School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The weight of sand, coral scrapings, algal fragments, and other calcareous materials which pass through the intestines of reef fishes was calculated on a hectare-per-year basis. It was found that browsing omnivorous reef fishes which rely, in part, on a plant diet ingested and redeposited at least 2300 kg of such material on a 1-hectare study reef near Bermuda. Reasons are presented why this estimate, certainly in order of magnitude, should be applicable to coral reefs in general.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Critical Depth for the Survival of Coral Islands: Effects on the Hawaiian Archipelago.
R. W. Grigg, R. W. GRIGG, and D. EPP (1989)
Science 243, 638-641
   Abstract »    PDF »
Phanerozoic Stromatolites: Noncompetitive Ecologic Restriction by Grazing and Burrowing Animals.
P. Garrett and P. Garrett (1970)
Science 169, 171-173
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)