Long Story Shorts: How Does Fish Poop Keep Our World in Balance?

You might be asking yourself, What does fish poop have to do with the health of the ocean and our planet? Well, gross or not, that fish poop plays a big role in something called the carbon cycle. Watch this video to find out-then think about everything else that goes number two in the deep blue and you’ll see how all that poop can help keep the Earth in balance.
Hey, teachers! Here’s a cheat sheet of what’s included in this episode of Long Story Shorts:
• The carbon cycle and the ocean carbon cycle
• Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere being absorbed by the ocean
• How the ocean carbon cycle affects ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and the frequency of storms and fires
• The ocean food chain and its link to the carbon cycle
• The role of fish poop in the ocean carbon cycle
• Phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish
This episode is part of our series Long Story Shorts-fun, quick explainers about all things coastal science!
Created by the Hakai Institute
Series produced by Kristina Blanchflower and Katrina Pyne
Written, edited, and narrated by Kristina Blanchflower
Illustrations by Mercedes Minck
Science consultation by Kelly Fretwell
This publication is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. Use of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development logo by a non-UN entity does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations of such entity, its products or services, or of its planned activities. For more information please access: forum.oceandec...