Coral reefs are under pressure. The seas they live in are getting ever warmer and more acidic, taking them out of coral’s comfort zone. Pollution is encouraging algal blooms, which stifle their growth. And overfishing is wiping out many species that they depend on for protection.

The over-fished species which have drawn most attention are those that feed on the algae or hunt others which have a penchant for consuming coral. However, Cody Clements and Mark Hay of the Georgia Institute of Technology wish to add what might seem an unlikely candidate to the list: sea cucumbers.