Sophistication in a seemingly simple creature: a review of wild holothurian nutrition in marine ecosystems

Pierrat, Joséphine; Bédier, Alexandre; Eeckhaut, Igor; Magalon, Hélène; Frouin, Patrick

doi:10.1111/brv.12799

Cited by 20 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 167 publications

(265 reference statements)

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“…Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus selectively ingests finer-grained particles (< 63-250 μm) and avoids ingesting coarser grains (≥ 500 μm), as found for other depositfeeding sea cucumbers (review by Pierrat et al 2022). This feeding selectivity may be influenced by the higher availability of organic content of smaller sediment size fractions (Jones and Jordan 1979).…”

Section: Feeding and Ecological Rolesmentioning

confidence: 88%

Movement dynamics, sediment turnover and sheltering behaviours of the nocturnal coral reef sea cucumber, Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus

Gray,

Byrne,

Clements

et al. 2023

Coral Reefs

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Animal movement and feeding studies shed light on ecological roles and can inform management strategies for fished species. However, the feeding and movement of nocturnal sea cucumbers have been rarely studied. We determined the movement dynamics, feeding ecology and sheltering behaviour of the nocturnal Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus (dragonfish) at One Tree Reef and Heron Island Reef on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The short-term movement of individual sea cucumbers were tracked, and sediment defecation rates were measured. Displacement rates averaged 3–33 cm h−1 across the four sites, with the sea cucumbers moving more slowly approaching sunrise and within patches of organically rich sediment. The movement paths were moderately tortuous, with larger sea cucumbers moving along straighter paths. Rates of sediment turnover averaged 7.8 g h−1 and were greatest for larger individuals. The faecal casts were organically richer and composed of finer grains than the ambient surface sediments, implying that S. cf. monotuberculatus avoids consuming coarse sediments and feeds on nutritionally rich particles. The sea cucumbers sheltered under hard reef substrata and moved non-directionally on the seascape, with a few individuals homing back to their original refuges. The affinity to reef substrata and short nightly net displacements of S. cf. monotuberculatus have implications for the spatial management of this and other similar species. Larger individuals occupied deeper refuges, implying that projected declines in substratum rugosity on coral reefs due to climate change could impact the size structure of sea cucumber populations, with implications for fisheries.

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Section: Feeding and Ecological Rolesmentioning

confidence: 88%

Movement dynamics, sediment turnover and sheltering behaviours of the nocturnal coral reef sea cucumber, Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus

Gray,

Byrne,

Clements

et al. 2023

Coral Reefs

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“…In addition, sea cucumbers play important roles in the ecosystem. Over-exploitation of sea cucumbers can have several adverse effects, such as compromising sediment health, reducing the ecosystem’s capacity to recycle nutrients and resist ocean acidification, diminishing the biodiversity of associated symbionts, and impeding the movement of organic matter from higher trophic levels ( Purcell et al, 2016a ; Pierrat et al, 2022 ). Owing to their high market demand, sea cucumber aquaculture is gaining momentum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging the gap between sustainability and profitability: unveiling the untapped potential of sea cucumber viscera

Muhsin,

Fujaya,

Hidayani

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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Sea cucumbers have high economic value, and in most forms of trade, their body wall is typically the only part that is harvested and sold. The organs of the sea cucumber, collectively known as the viscera, are frequently discarded, contributing to land and water pollution. However, discarded sea cucumber viscera contain various nutrients that can be used in many applications. Therefore, this review highlights the biological and economic aspects of sea cucumbers, followed by a critical discussion of the nutritional value of their internal organs and possible applications, including as functional feed additives in the aquaculture industry, sources of natural testosterone for application in sex reversal and production of monosex population, of neuroprotective agents against central nervous system disorders and of cosmetic ingredients, especially for skin whitening and anti-ageing products. The review further highlights the valorisation potential of viscera to maximize their economic potential, thus providing an enormous prospect for reusing sea cucumber waste, thereby reducing the negative impact of the sea cucumber fishery sector on the environment.

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Seafloor bioturbation intensity on the deep sea: More complex than organic matter

Miguez‐Salas,

Saeedi,

Brandt

et al. 2024

Limnology & Oceanography

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Deep‐sea benthic communities are strongly controlled by the quantity and quality of organic matter sinking from the ocean surface. The interaction between benthic fauna and seafloor sediments mainly occurs through bioturbation that modifies substrate properties (e.g., geochemical profiles). The intensity of the bioturbation has long been linked with organic matter and measured as a diffusive process by considering the vertical particle reworking (endobenthic bioturbation), disregarding the seafloor horizontal mixing (epibenthic bioturbation). Here, a novel approach to quantify horizontal mixing is presented: Seafloor Bioturbation Intensity (SBI). SBI calculations were based on seafloor image datasets from eight stations that reflected different environmental conditions in the north‐western Pacific (e.g., chlorophyll a, silicate). To calculate SBI, we characterized the area occupied by all different types of traces (i.e., lebensspuren) related to epibenthic bioturbation, trace makers, and their ingested sediment thickness. Our results showed a weak negative correlation between organic matter and SBI. This relationship contrast with the traditionally held view on vertical bioturbation intensity, where a dominant positive correlation is expected. It is demonstrated that lebensspuren morphotypes contributed differently to SBI. Not all morphotypes—and, by extension, their corresponding trace makers—are equally controlled by the same environmental factors. This investigation does not dismiss the importance of organic matter content, but emphasizes the importance of other environmental variables that need to be considered when determining the long‐term relation between epibenthic fauna and bioturbation intensity. Finally, we emphasize the importance of characterizing horizontal bioturbation for approaching global biogeochemical cycles and conservational strategies.

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Sophistication in a seemingly simple creature: a review of wild holothurian nutrition in marine ecosystems

Cited by 20 publications

References 167 publications

Movement dynamics, sediment turnover and sheltering behaviours of the nocturnal coral reef sea cucumber, Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus

Movement dynamics, sediment turnover and sheltering behaviours of the nocturnal coral reef sea cucumber, Stichopus cf. monotuberculatus

Bridging the gap between sustainability and profitability: unveiling the untapped potential of sea cucumber viscera

Seafloor bioturbation intensity on the deep sea: More complex than organic matter

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