Oceanic production of calcium carbonate is conventionally attributed to marine plankton (coccolithophores and foraminifera).
This report finds that marine fish produce precipitated carbonates within their intestines and excrete these at high rates. When combined with estimates of global fish biomass, this suggests that marine fish contribute 3 to 15% of total oceanic carbonate production.
Oceanic production of calcium carbonate is conventionally attributed to marine plankton (coccolithophores and foraminifera).
This report finds that marine fish produce precipitated carbonates within their intestines and excrete these at high rates. When combined with estimates of global fish biomass, this suggests that marine fish contribute 3 to 15% of total oceanic carbonate production.
This paper also predicts that fish carbonate production may rise in response to future environmental changes in carbon dioxide, and thus become an increasingly important component of the inorganic carbon cycle.
This paper, Wilson, R. et al., "Contribution of Fish to the Marine Inorganic Carbon Cycle", Science 16 January 2009: Vol. 323. no. 5912, pp. 359 – 362., is available here.
(This is a pay service, but the abstract may be viewed free.)
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