The role of fish feces for nutrient cycling on coral reefs

• Published in: Oikos Vol. 2023; no. 9
• Main Authors: Schiettekatte, Nina M. D., Casey, Jordan M., Brandl, Simon J., Mercière, Alexandre, Degregori, Sam, Burkepile, Deron, Van Wert, Jacey C., Ghilardi, Mattia, Villéger, Sébastien, Parravicini, Valeriano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2023; Nordic Ecological Society
• Subjects: Absorption; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biogeochemical cycle; Biogeochemical cycles; biomass; carbon; consumer-mediated nutrient cycling; Coral reefs; corals; Ecological function; Ecosystem assessment; ecosystems; egestion; energy; Environmental Sciences; Excretion; Faeces; Feces; Fish; Food chains; Food webs; Global Changes; Guilds; Marine fishes; Nitrogen; Nutrient cycles; Nutrients; Phosphorus; Reef fish; Reef fishes; stoichiometry
• ISSN: 0030-1299; 1600-0706
• DOI: 10.1111/oik.09914

Consumers play an important role in biogeochemical cycles through the consumption and release of essential elements such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P). Indeed, a large proportion of consumed elements are released into the environment in inorganic (i.e. excretion) or organic form (i...