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Do tiny fish rule the reefs? Covert fish larvae may serve as crucial cuisine in coral reef ecosystems
Coral reef fishes are famous for their fantastic colors and forms. Easily overlooked are the cryptic and diminutive (cryptobenthic) bottom-dwelling fishes that also call coral reefs home. By linking empirical data and ecosystem modeling, Brandl et al. (1), on page 1189 of this issue, propose that pelagic (open-water) larvae of cryptobenthic fishes and their small juveniles that recently settled on reefs constitute a key food source for other reef residents. Such a scenario could help explain why coral reefs in nutrientpoor waters teem with life.
History
Publication title
ScienceVolume
364Issue
6446Pagination
1128-1130ISSN
0036-8075Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Amer Assoc Advancement SciencePlace of publication
1200 New York Ave, Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20005Repository Status
- Restricted