Parrotfish to aid reef repair

Ally · 11-01-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

A vividly coloured fish could be the key to saving the Caribbean's coral reefs from plummeting into terminal decline, scientists claim.

Their research forecasts that reefs risk being damaged beyond repair by the influx of seaweed.

But urgent action such as protecting parrotfish, which graze upon the floral invaders, may prevent the ecosystems from reaching this tipping point.

The research is published in the journal Nature.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7069933.stm

**Kev Martin** · 11-01-2007, 03:36 PM

Well, you can always rely on me to bring a little (parrotfish) toilet humour into the proceedings...........

During one of my trips out to the Red Sea, I was quietly meandering along a reef wall out spotting the lovely fishies when, inadvertently I got a little too close to a parrotfish which was dining out on some dead coral. I had read that with its impressive 'beak' it could bite away at the coral with little or no effort. I had also read, with some amusement, that it 'pooped' sand!

The little feller swam away and then back and straight over me. On his way over he let rip (it could have been fear or just plain revenge for my having disturbed his lunch). On looking over I noticed a fine covering of reddish sand on my forearm. I gave it a vigorous brush down and discovered for the first time just what it was like to be stung by fire coral!!!

Yes, the little blighter had just dined on some fire coral (I suppose that would be a parrotfish equivalent to something with chillies in) and had decided to evacuate the lot onto me.

On a positive note, I can always look back on experience when telling people about the dangers and discomfort of being stung by fire coral and I always stress about NOT swimming under parrotfish!!

Ally · 11-01-2007, 03:42 PM

Nice one Kevin...but if you don't swim under a parrotfish, what should you do if one swims over you?

**MgicTwnger** · 11-01-2007, 05:07 PM

It's amazing to think that those beautiful beaches are parrotfish poop. Just watch one of those guys for a little while and out comes the sand.

Ally · 11-01-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MgicTwnger

It's amazing to think that those beautiful beaches are parrotfish poop. Just watch one of those guys for a little while and out comes the sand.

....

I knew there was a reason why I never liked to sit on a sandy beach....

**Kev Martin** · 11-01-2007, 05:52 PM

I cannot help but look back on when I was a youngster at the seaside. I was always getting sand in my sandwiches

Ally · 11-01-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Martin

I cannot help but look back on when I was a youngster at the seaside. I was always getting sand in my sandwiches

....

....oh don't even go there.....and the apple that mother always peeled and chopped that always ended up gritty.....

**MgicTwnger** · 11-02-2007, 01:48 AM

Watch out, here comes the beach fish:

swim, swim, swim, swim, swim, BBBBBBRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTT, swim, swim, swim, swim

Ally tries to make a serious post, and look what happens!

Ally · 11-02-2007, 08:05 AM

....ha ha ha Ken

(Good job this thread is in off topic, innit?....it was all Kevin's fault, he went down the pan with this thread...nowt to do with me at all

)

OK...we in the UK don't have parrotfish or coral (too damn chilly), so what fish made the sand on all of our beaches?

Obviously it would be a big fish...there is alot of sand been 'deposited' here and there....

So who did it, please?

I wonder if we will have any sensible answers

**MgicTwnger** · 11-02-2007, 10:58 AM

I looked it up in Wikipedia and found out way more than I wanted to know. Basically it's rock ground up by natural processes and transported by wind and water.