Effects of body size and water temperature on the movement and feeding behavior of juvenile sea cucumber <i>Apostichopus japonicus</i>

Tanaka Kai, Sakurai Izumi

doi:10.11233/aquaculturesci.72.21

<p>We compared the movement distances and feeding behavior of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus to determine the effects of behavioral changes, body size, and water temperature on the emergence of growth disparities. Juveniles (standard body length, 7.0-58.6 mm) were used in the experiments. The water temperature range was 6-18°C. The movement distance was measured while adjusting the water temperature according to changes in seawater temperature. Feeding behavior was observed in warming and cooling treatments, where the water temperature was adjusted to reach the set condition. Juveniles actively migrated at water temperatures of approximately 10°C but continued to feed without active movement at temperatures ≥ 14°C. In the warming treatment, the proportion of feeding individuals and feeding duration increased with increasing body size and water temperature in juveniles. However, no difference in feeding behavior was observed in the cooling treatment, except for the condition of body length ≥ 35 mm and water temperature of 18°C. These results suggest that the uneven growth in juveniles increased under warming conditions. Juveniles reduced their movement and increased their feeding duration to reduce energy consumption under high water temperatures when the basal metabolic rate increased.</p>

Effects of body size and water temperature on the movement and feeding behavior of juvenile sea cucumber <i>Apostichopus japonicus</i>

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