How Fish Gut Bacteria Influence the Marine Carbon Cycle

Researchers from the University of Miami have discovered that gut bacteria in marine fish help produce calcium carbonate pellets. This symbiotic relationship suggests that microbes, rather than just the fish themselves, play a key role in regulating ocean chemistry. These findings highlight a previously overlooked mechanism in the global carbon cycle. By contributing to the formation of carbonate minerals, these microscopic organisms influence how the ocean stores carbon and maintains its overall health.