Small fish have big impact on marine populations, research finds

Research has found it is better to be a small fish in a big ocean – at least when it comes to producing offspring.

Scientists from James Cook University have used genetic testing to determine whether little fish or big fish are more successful at reproduction.

JCU molecular ecologist Hugo Harrison said it had long been known that larger fish produced more eggs, but they wanted to find out whether larger fish were actually producing most baby fish.

After doing DNA analysis on coral groupers (Plectropomus maculatus) in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, they found it was actually…