Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40119137›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

How sediment granulometry affects feeding behaviour in sea cucumbers: a case study on Holothuria sanctori.

Mohammad Magdy, Luca Grosso, Davide Pensa, Laura Ciriminna, Alessandra Fianchini, Salvatrice Vizzini, Stefano Cataudella, Arnold Rakaj

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PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mohammad MagdyExperimental Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Luca GrossoExperimental Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Davide PensaExperimental Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Laura CiriminnaDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alessandra FianchiniExperimental Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Salvatrice VizziniDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Stefano CataudellaExperimental Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Arnold RakajExperimental Ecology and Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. arnold.rakaj@uniroma2.it.

Funding

Permanence of excellence in academia E82F20000670004PON project E86C18001440008
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The sea cucumber Holothuria sanctori is an Atlanto-Mediterranean deposit feeder that contributes to sediment processing in coastal areas. However, the feeding ecology of this species, including its sediment processing capacity, remains largely unexplored under controlled conditions. This study investigates the effect of sediment granulometry on the feeding behaviour of H. sanctori, focusing on organic matter (OM) selectivity and sediment ingestion. Specimens were tested under five experimental treatments, each containing sediments with particle sizes ranging from 0 to 1000 μm, with standardized OM availability across treatments. A natural simulation with a hard, sediment-free substrate was also included. Data on defecation rate and faecal OM content was collected daily to evaluate sediment processing capacity. Results indicate that H. sanctori optimally selects OM (average OM: 4.2%) and processes sediment (average defecation rate: 1.5 g/day per 100 g biomass WW) in fine particle treatments (< 250 μm). Additionally, the species exhibits an extended sediment processing capacity across a wide range of sediment sizes, including particles up to 1000 μm. The study further revealed that the sea cucumber increases sediment ingestion (by one order, on average) to compensate for reduced OM availability (by 0.15 order, on average), maintaining a constant OM intake. The results suggest that sediment granulometry might not be the primary factor in determining the species' microhabitat preferences in the natural environment due to its extended capacity to process different sediment granulometries. These findings enhance our understanding of H. sanctori's feeding behaviour and highlight its potential in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture applications.

Indexed as

Feeding BehaviorGeologic SedimentsHolothuriaSea CucumbersAnimalsDefecationFecesParticle SizeBioturbationDeposit-feedingFood selectivityHolothuroidsIntegrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)Organic matterSediment reworking

Identifiers

PMID40119137
PMCPMC11928652

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