Pomacanthus sexstriatus (sixbar angelfish) gut microbiota

Investigation of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of the sixbar angelfish, an omnivouos species common in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. We compared the microbiota in the lower large intestine (section 4) to an enlarged hindgut compartment (section 5) that is thought to contribute to nutrient acquisition and metabolism for the fish. Greater understanding of the nutritional ecology of key fish species such as this with help use to better assess the health and conservation of endangered coral reefs found in low-nutrient topical seas.