Finding Nemo’s role
IT IS one of the best-known relationships in nature: the anemone provides a
tentacle-guarded home and the clownfish drives off predators that would chew its
protector. Recent research has, however, shown there is much more going on. A
study in 2009 revealed that waste excreted by clownfish provides vital nutrients
to anemones. Now researchers have found clownfish can boost their hosts’ oxygen
supplies at night too.
tentacle-guarded home and the clownfish drives off predators that would chew its
protector. Recent research has, however, shown there is much more going on. A
study in 2009 revealed that waste excreted by clownfish provides vital nutrients
to anemones. Now researchers have found clownfish can boost their hosts’ oxygen
supplies at night too.