Microbiota endozoochorous dispersal in Caribbean coral reefs by the stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride

The spotlight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride, the most abundant excavator in the Caribbean, alleviates competition between algae and corals with profound effects on the dynamics and resilience of coral reefs. Its large bite covers a wide range of feeding substrates, including a preference for live coral. We found coral microbiome components carried in feces of S. viride, where microbial communities are enriched with coral-associated bacteria. These results support a functional ecological feedback from S. viride to the environmental reservoirs of bacteria in Caribbean reefs