Holothuria polii and Holothuria tubulosa are two of the most commercially exploited sea cucumbers of the Mediterranean Sea. As deposit-feeders, they represent an important component of the benthic community. Hence, knowledge of their feeding behaviour is crucial for understanding their function in terms of benthic ecology and sediment dynamics.Using information obtained from stable isotope analysis, the food selectivity/assimilation, temporal variations in diet and trophic niche of H. polii and H. tubulosa were investigated. Analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in body wall tissue showed a preferential assimilation of seagrass detritus among multiple food sources, with a total contribution to the diet ranging from 63% to 74%. The temporal changes in delta C-13 and delta N-15 values followed the seagrass isotopic dynamics with depleted values in winter and enriched values in summer. Additionally, delta C-13 and delta N-15 measurements were used to outline the species' trophic niche width. The two species coexist, showing an overlap on the delta C-13 axis and a partial degree of niche segregation on the delta N-15 axis. Our results provide an overview on the feeding activity of H. polii and H. tubulosa, providing evidence of their crucial role on the seagrass detrital pathways for Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.

Boncagni, P., Rakaj, A., Fianchini, A., Vizzini, S. (2019). Preferential assimilation of seagrass detritus by two coexisting Mediterranean sea cucumbers: Holothuria polii and Holothuria tubulosa. ESTUARINE, COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, 231, 106464 [10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106464].

Preferential assimilation of seagrass detritus by two coexisting Mediterranean sea cucumbers: Holothuria polii and Holothuria tubulosa

Rakaj, A.
Conceptualization
;
2019-01-01

Abstract

Holothuria polii and Holothuria tubulosa are two of the most commercially exploited sea cucumbers of the Mediterranean Sea. As deposit-feeders, they represent an important component of the benthic community. Hence, knowledge of their feeding behaviour is crucial for understanding their function in terms of benthic ecology and sediment dynamics.Using information obtained from stable isotope analysis, the food selectivity/assimilation, temporal variations in diet and trophic niche of H. polii and H. tubulosa were investigated. Analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in body wall tissue showed a preferential assimilation of seagrass detritus among multiple food sources, with a total contribution to the diet ranging from 63% to 74%. The temporal changes in delta C-13 and delta N-15 values followed the seagrass isotopic dynamics with depleted values in winter and enriched values in summer. Additionally, delta C-13 and delta N-15 measurements were used to outline the species' trophic niche width. The two species coexist, showing an overlap on the delta C-13 axis and a partial degree of niche segregation on the delta N-15 axis. Our results provide an overview on the feeding activity of H. polii and H. tubulosa, providing evidence of their crucial role on the seagrass detrital pathways for Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.
2019
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore BIO/07 - ECOLOGIA
English
Holothuria tubulosa
Holothuria polii
Sea cucumber
Posidonia oceanica
Seagrass detritus
Stable isotope
Boncagni, P., Rakaj, A., Fianchini, A., Vizzini, S. (2019). Preferential assimilation of seagrass detritus by two coexisting Mediterranean sea cucumbers: Holothuria polii and Holothuria tubulosa. ESTUARINE, COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, 231, 106464 [10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106464].
Boncagni, P; Rakaj, A; Fianchini, A; Vizzini, S
Articolo su rivista
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Boncagni et al. 2020.pdf

solo utenti autorizzati

Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Copyright dell'editore
Dimensione 1.16 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.16 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/303474
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 28
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 27
social impact