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<p>Coral reefs are in decline and face mounting stressors such as increasing sea temperatures, making it crucial to understand natural mechanisms that support coral health. Planktivorous damselfishes share tight associations with live corals and excrete inorganic forms of nitrogen and phosphorus that are typically limited in oligotrophic coral reef systems. Although these nutrient types are often beneficial to coral growth and overall physiological performance under both natural and controlled heat-stress conditions, the effects that fish-derived nutrients have on coral colony ecophysiology are poorly understood in terms of mechanisms, nutrient pathways, and performance. In this review, we discuss the nutrient requirements of corals and synthesize current knowledge on the potential for planktivorous coral-dwelling damselfishes to improve coral physiology under normal and elevated temperatures. This is particularly important for branching corals, which are the preferred homes of many species of damselfishes and are more susceptible to bleaching impacts. The biotic and abiotic factors that may influence nutrient transfer from damselfishes to corals are also critically evaluated to identify key knowledge gaps and provide direction for future research. Our findings indicate a number of potential pathways by which nutrients from damselfishes may enhance coral performance and heat tolerance; however, more research is warranted to investigate a range of physiological metrics in corals to quantify actual effects on coral physiology, in laboratory and especially field settings. Future research would also benefit from a method that enables nutrient flow to be directly traced and quantified from fishes to home corals.</p>

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The relationship between nutrient supply from resident fishes and the growth, condition, and thermal tolerance of corals

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月16日

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  • Amy Carmignani,
  • Grzegorz Skrzypek,
  • Rohan M. Brooker,
  • Mark G. Meekan,
  • Tory J. Chase,
  • Andrew A. Shantz,
  • Diego R. Barneche

摘要

Coral reefs are in decline and face mounting stressors such as increasing sea temperatures, making it crucial to understand natural mechanisms that support coral health. Planktivorous damselfishes share tight associations with live corals and excrete inorganic forms of nitrogen and phosphorus that are typically limited in oligotrophic coral reef systems. Although these nutrient types are often beneficial to coral growth and overall physiological performance under both natural and controlled heat-stress conditions, the effects that fish-derived nutrients have on coral colony ecophysiology are poorly understood in terms of mechanisms, nutrient pathways, and performance. In this review, we discuss the nutrient requirements of corals and synthesize current knowledge on the potential for planktivorous coral-dwelling damselfishes to improve coral physiology under normal and elevated temperatures. This is particularly important for branching corals, which are the preferred homes of many species of damselfishes and are more susceptible to bleaching impacts. The biotic and abiotic factors that may influence nutrient transfer from damselfishes to corals are also critically evaluated to identify key knowledge gaps and provide direction for future research. Our findings indicate a number of potential pathways by which nutrients from damselfishes may enhance coral performance and heat tolerance; however, more research is warranted to investigate a range of physiological metrics in corals to quantify actual effects on coral physiology, in laboratory and especially field settings. Future research would also benefit from a method that enables nutrient flow to be directly traced and quantified from fishes to home corals.