According to scientists and researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the inch-long fish known as "gobies, respond to the chemical signals from the coral in a matter of minutes." Certain types of coral can send out chemical signals that act like calls for help to fish “bodyguards” when they are being attacked or feel threatened. Gobies are among the types of fish bodyguards that respond to these signals and sometimes minimize the threat. A common threat to coral is toxic seaweed. Once the gobies receive the signals, they can trim back the poisonous seaweed. The researchers studied Acropora nasuta, a species of coral that is key to coral reef ecosystems.
The gobies form the family Gobiidae. The Gobiidae family is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species. Gobies grow to 4 inches long on average, but can reach up to 12 inches in length. Different species of gobies can be found in freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water. The majority of the goby species"spend their entire lives in the crevices of specific corals, receiving protection from their own predators while removing threats to the corals."
Original Article: http://personalliberty.com/2012/11/12/corals-use-chemicals-as-911-calls-to-fish/
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