Creating Sand Beaches with Poop

Book excerpt: One of the amazing things poop can do is create beautiful white sandy beaches. Scientists have discovered that around 70 percent of white sand found on beaches comes from parrot fish poop. Parrot fish have bird-like beaks that can bite off pieces of coral. They chew the coral into tiny particles, digest the algae that grows on it, and poop out what they no longer need; streams of white coral sand. This fascinating book will help readers understand the value of poop in creating beaches, as well as the important role parrot fish play in the ecological system they live in.