Seabird excrement boosts coral reef resilience and growth: study

Research reveals that nutrients from seabird excrement significantly enhance coral growth rates and aid recovery following bleaching events, underscoring the importance of seabirds for coral reef health. On islands without invasive rats, which decrease seabird populations, coral growth rates were observed to be twice as high compared to rat-infested islands. Efforts to eradicate rats and restore seabird populations could thus bolster coral resilience. This discovery highlights a novel aspect of ecosystem interconnectivity and the potential for seabird conservation to contribute to coral reef recovery and sustainability. (Mongabay)