Several feeding experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplement of seaweed, fermented soybean and probiotics on the growth of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. After comparing the growth performance of sea cucumbers fed with Ulva fasciata, Gracilaria tenuistipitata and Laminaria japonica for 8 weeks, U. fasciata was selected as a major protein source. Four partial replacements of U. fasciata in feeds were then prepared by the inclusion of white fish meal, soybean meal, mixture of fish and soybean meal and fermented soybean (BioMax ® ), respectively. The growth performance over a period of 8 weeks revealed that sea cucumbers fed with fermented soybean supplemental diet had significantly better weight gain (129.60 ± 0.14%), SGR (1.48 ± 0.01%) and FCR (2.93 ± 0.01) compared with individuals fed with other diets (p < .05). Moreover, the relative higher attractiveness of fermented soybean supplemental diet was shown in food choice experiments (pairwise comparison). Daily addition of 10 9 CFU of probiotics mixture (Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus) in diet for 8 weeks could be suitable for the growth of sea cucumbers while sand was used as a substrate in tank bottom. The present study provided useful information for tank-based aquaculture of Apostichopus japonicus.

Se realizó un estudio espacial y temporal de la macrofauna bentónica en la zona intermareal de la Playa Pochomil, Nicaragua, en tres sitios denominados S.A (sitio arenoso), SRR (sitio rocoso con río) y S.R (sitio rocoso), respectivamente. Al final del estudio se contabilizaron un total de 596 individuos pertenecientes a cuatro Filos (Molusca, Anélida, Artrópoda y Equinodermata). La diversidad de macrofauna bentónica calculada mediante el índice de Shannon-Weaver, refleja valores de diversidad muy bajos durante todas las épocas de muestreo. Mediante el índice de Jaccard y Morisita-Horn, se evidenció que hubo baja similitud de especies. Además, se comprobó que la temporalidad no tuvo efecto directo significativo sobre la abundancia y distribución de la macrofauna bentónica, sino que ésta fue influenciada principalmente por las características físicas de los sitios de muestreo