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Umbrohukalad võivad korallid päästa

Coral reefs at risk as fish killed
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
(Filed: 13/03/2006)

Weed-eating fish could help determine the fate of the world's coral reefs, a scientist is to argue.

The reefs are being smothered by a tide of weed, which is flourishing as humans pour nutrients into the oceans from erosion, agriculture, sewage and development.

But a major factor in the coral reefs' decline may also be the slaughter and removal of parrot fish and surgeon fish, the "gardeners of the reef", said Prof Dave Bellwood of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Experiments have shown that the removal of grazing fish from the reef leads to the coral becoming smothered by weed. "Remove them, and you as good as remove the reef itself," Prof Bellwood said. "People are generally unaware how essential these groups of fishes are to the upkeep and protection of the reef."