Algae-farming fish help coral reefs bounce back from bleaching events

Algae-farming fish help coral reefs bounce back from bleaching events

Source: new scientist

3/19/2023

Credit: ArteSub/Alamy

The presence of territorial farmerfish that look after algae gardens seems to help branching corals recover after heat stress has bleached them, but we aren't sure why

Fish that tend patches of stringy algae seem to shield branching corals from the worst effects of marine heat waves and help them recover after bleaching.