One way to protect coral reefs? Bring back seabirds
Scientists are discovering that seabird populations are essential to the health of coral reefs due to the nutrients provided by their guano. Conservation efforts are now focusing on restoring bird colonies to help reefs adapt to climate change.
Why it matters
This research highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems and offers a nature-based solution for coral reef preservation.
The remote Pacific Ocean has some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world. The corals themselves are bigger than cars, their delicate arms creating a dense underwater maze. Above them, the skies are filled with seabirds like red-footed boobies and white terns, searching for fish.
These species, separated by land and sea, are far more intertwined than once thought. Their relationship is the backbone of an entire ecosystem — a hidden connection that's changing the way scientists think about conservation.
That connection: bird poop. Coral reefs near seabird colonies are generally healthier, thanks to the nutrients that birds deposit in their guano. It's one reason tropical islands and atolls are biodiversity hot spots in the vast Pacific Ocean.
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