AdelaideSkin microbes may shield young sawfish through drought.
Largetooth sawfish are critically endangered, so any buffer against harsh conditions matters.
Microscopic communities on the skin of Pristis pristis could help young fish endure challenging dry-season conditions, Flinders University researchers found.
The Flinders-led team offers the microbiome as a new perspective on protecting the species.
How each outlet framed it
- Phys.org leans favorable
- credits skin microbes with low-oxygen tolerance as a survival mechanism for sawfish pups stranded in shrinking Daly River pools
Sources: Phys.org