Bioerosion

Maintenance workers on the reef. Cocoon preparation. Credit: Renal Pickholz

Not just beautiful: the atolls—the reef engineers that produce sand and save coral

Parrotfish are herbivores that grind down algae and stone, contribute up to ~70% of the sand on tropical beaches, maintain reefs—and also exhibit unique behaviors such as a mucous “sleeping bag” and early storm prediction.