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Red Grouper Operate as Underwater Architects

from the Washington Post (Registration Required)

Red grouper are known for a few key characteristics--their hue, which can range from pink to bright orange; their tastiness, whether they're grilled or sautéed; and their predation method, in which they ambush fellow sea creatures and swallow them whole.

But their least-known attribute might be the most valuable of all: They operate as underwater architects, transforming the seascape for myriad other forms of underwater life, rather than just residing there.

That surprising discovery is forcing scientists and policymakers to recalibrate their approach to preserving the ocean's natural order--and heightening tensions with those who fish for a living or as a hobby.