Bird poop helps keep coral reefs healthy, but rats are messing that up

Nitrogen from bird guano is linked to more productive reef ecosystems

booby chick

WILD WASTE  Nitrogen from the guano of seabirds, such as this red-footed booby chick, leaches into coral ecosystems and helps them stay robust.

N. Graham

When invasive rats chow down on island seabirds, coral reefs suffer.