0000000000641532
AUTHOR
Alessandra Fianchini
Trophic Requirements of the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus Varies at Different Life Stages: Comprehension of Species Ecology and Implications for Effective Feeding Formulations
Investigations on trophic requirements of different life cycle stages of Paracentrotus lividus are crucial for the comprehension of species ecology and for its artificial rearing. The future success of echinoculture depends heavily on the development of suitable and cost-effective diets that are specifically designed to maximize somatic growth during the early life stages and gonadal production in the later stages. In this context, a considerable number of studies have recommended animal sources as supplements in sea urchin diets. However, with the exception of Fernandez and Boudouresque (2000), no studies have investigated the dietary requirements over the different life stages of the sea …
Preferential assimilation of seagrass detritus by two coexisting Mediterranean sea cucumbers: Holothuria polii and Holothuria tubulosa
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 …