Organic matter ingestion and assimilation rates by the sea cucumber Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa (Gmelin, 1788) at different temperatures and potential effects on benthic trophic status.

We investigated the effects of different temperature anomalies (up to +12 °C) on the biochemical features of sediments offered to specimens of the sea cucumber Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa (Gmelin, 1788) and of its feces. We also estimated ingestion and assimilation rates of different classes of organic compounds after the different treatments. The exposure to temperature anomalies influenced the metabolism and organic matter assimilation efficiency of H.

Sea cucumbers bioturbation potential outcomes on marine benthic trophic status under different temperature regimes.

Eutrophication affects coastal oceans worldwide, modifies primary production and sediment biogeochemistry and, overall, is progressively compromising marine ecosystems' integrity. Because of their known bioturbation ability, sea cucumbers are supposed to be candidates for mitigating benthic eutrophication. To provide insights on this, we investigated differences in organic matter quantity and biochemical composition (as proxies of benthic trophic status) of sediments and feces of the sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa acclimated in mesocosms at temperatures comprised between natural conditions (14-26 °C) and an extreme of 29 °C (representing the highest anomaly under heat waves in the Mediterrranean Sea).