Fish fecal pellets are a source of minerals for inshore reef communities

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Fecal pellets of temperate and tropical reef fishes of the genus Chromis contained high concentrations of minerals, many of which are considered essential for organismic growth. The concentrations of most elements were substantially higher in the feces than in undigested food recovered from the stomach. Large numbers of feces-associated bacteria, apparently derived from the gut microbial population, may have contributed to the high P levels in fresh feces. P flux to inshore reefs via defecation of fecal pellets by the blacksmith C. punctipinnis in nocturnal shelters was comparable to estimates of P transport through surface waters by sinking zooplankton feces. Resistance of fecal pellets to degradation during long-term in situ incubation in nocturnal shelters suggests that bacteria do not play a significant role in controlling accumulation of fish feces on the reef.