fish gills

Researchers have found that bacteria living on the gills of coral reef fish carry genes for chemosynthesis, the process of making food from chemicals rather than sunlight. DNA analysis revealed these genetic pathways in the gill microbes, suggesting reef fish may host bacteria capable of producing nutrients in ways previously associated with deep-sea ecosystems rather than sunlit reefs.

Scientists have discovered that fish gills carry their own distinct microbiome, a community of microbes previously unknown to science. The finding suggests gills, long studied mainly for respiration, also serve as a specialised microbial habitat, potentially reshaping understanding of fish health, aquaculture disease management and how aquatic animals interact with their watery environment.