Photo of the day

Ocean forests are structurally diverse ecosystems, creating a unique marine habitat for many species living above and below the waterline. The busy schools of fish that swim through mangrove water excrete nitrogen-rich urine through their gills, naturally fertilizing lush green algae growing on the tree roots, providing nutrients to feed other fish and crabs. After studying the urinary habitats of gray snappers and cuberas in a mangrove estuary, scientists estimated what would happen if 50% of the species disappeared from the waters, finding that removing the most active fish would cut the amount of nitrogen in the ecosystem by up to 69%! 🦀 🐟 Given the number of animals this would affect, it’s vital we keep mangrove forests in tact.