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Wax in coral mucus: Energy transfer from corals to reef fishes 1
Author(s) -
Benson A. A.,
Muscatine L.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1974.19.5.0810
Subject(s) - mucus , coral , reef , coral reef , biology , coral reef fish , wax , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , biochemistry
Mucus from a variety of reef corals has been found to contain wax ester (cetyl palmitate) and triglycerides. Observation revealed extensive mucus feeding by many species of reef fishes. When coral mucus is artificially dispersed fish assemble and avidly ingest it. Coral mucus could be an energy source linking the coral producer and small fish consumers in reef communities.