Contrasting displacement of the sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis between adjacent nearshore habitats

摘要: Abstract Many sea cucumber species are subjected to exponentially increasing fisheries worldwide; management of their populations should take into account behavior. Yet, studies relating feeding rates and displacement cucumbers are, date, scarce. The abundance, particulate organic matter (POM) consumption the Holothuria arguinensis were compared between two adjacent, vegetated, habitats: a macroalgal dominated bed seagrass meadow formed by Cymodocea nodosa , at island Gran Canaria (eastern Atlantic). Abundances H. did not differ meadow. No differences found neither in POM nor content habitats. Movement occurred continuously during day nighttime, i.e. without resting periods. sheltering behavior was observed. Faster longer displacements detected on than bed, probably as result different topography habitats, independently daily period (day vs. night) moon phase. As result, locomotion habitats connected with These results could be useful for managing current future this Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean.