Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Feeding preferences, seasonal gut repletion indices, and diel feeding patterns of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) on a coastal habitat off Toliara (Madagascar)

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The feeding biology of the echinoid Tripneustes gratilla from a seagrass bed off Toliara, on the south-west coast of Madagascar, was investigated during the summer and winter seasons. Repletion indices of the gut of T. gratilla varied seasonally, in such a way that higher amounts of food occurred in the gut in winter than in other seasons. Conversely, a more detailed analysis of one summer and one winter sample of the gut tissue dry weights revealed higher weights in summer (February) than in winter (August). This was interpreted as a varying capability of nutrient storage and closely related to the feeding activity of the echinoid. This inverse relationship between feeding activity and nutrient storage was suggested to be dependent on gonadal growth. Indeed, higher food consumption was observed during the post-spawning period (August), that is, when most of the energy accumulated was used up for gonadal growth. Low feeding activity occurred when a sufficient amount of energy was accumulated in gut tissues (February), the time corresponding to the initiation of gonadal growth. Investigations on the feeding habits, using Ivlev's electivity index, revealed preferential feeding of T. gratilla on Syringodium isoetifolium, the dominant seagrass species found in the gut. This was partly related to the higher availability of that particular seagrass species in the field. However, its soft and terete leaf blade's morphology also makes it easier to manipulate and ingest. Studies on the feeding behaviour indicated the presence of a diel feeding cycle in T. gratilla individuals in both summer and winter seasons. Yet, its pattern varied between the two studied months (one summer and one winter) as the cycle was less contrasted during period of active feeding, i.e. in winter compared to summer. This study provides novel information on how intrinsic factors, such as physiological state, can govern the feeding activity of T. gratilla living in a seagrass habitat.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JM (1966) Aspects of nutritional physiology. In: Boolootian RA (ed) Physiology of Echinodermata. Wiley-Interscience, New York, pp 329–357

  • Ayling AL (1978) The relation of food availability and food preferences to the field diet of an echinoid Evechinus chloroticus (Valenciennes). J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 33:223–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Beddingfield SD, McClintock JB (1998) Differential survivorship, reproduction, growth and nutrient allocation in the regular echinoid Lytechinus variegatus (Lamarck) fed natural diets. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 226:195–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop CD, Watts SA (1992) Biochemical and morphometric study of growth in the stomach and intestine of the echinoid Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata). Mar Biol 114:459–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Cam C (1997) Dynamique de l'alimentation de l'oursin comestible Paracentrotus lividus (Lmck) en conditions contrôlées et mise au point d'un aliment artificiel. Master's thesis, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels

  • Chen CP, Chang KH (1981) Reproductive periodicity of the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla (L.) in Taiwan compared with other regions. Int J Invertebr Reprod 3:309–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke SM, Kirkmann H (1989) Seagrass dynamics. In: Larkum AWD, McComb AJ, Shepherd SA (eds) Biology of seagrasses. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 304–334

  • Cowen RK (1983) The effect of sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) predation on red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) populations: an experimental analysis. Oecologia 58:249–255

    Google Scholar 

  • De Ridder C, Jangoux M (1982) Digestive systems: Echinoidea. In: Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm nutrition. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 213–234

  • De Ridder C, Lawrence JM (1982) Food and feeding mechanisms: Echinoidea. In: Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm nutrition. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 57–115

  • Ebert TA (1968) Growth rates of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus related to food availability and spine abrasion. Ecology 49:1075–1091

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenaux L, Malara G, Cellario C, Charra R, Palazzoli I (1977) Evolution des constituants biochimiques des principaux compartiments de l'oursin Arbacia lixula (L.) au cours d'un cycle sexuel et effets d'un jeûne de courte durée au cours de la maturation sexuelle. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 28:17–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson JC (1982) Nutrient translocation. In: Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm nutrition. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 373–393

  • Fuji A (1967) Ecological studies on the growth and food consumption of Japanese common littoral sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius (A. Agassiz). Mem Fac Fish Hokkaido Univ 15:83–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonor JJ (1973) Reproductive cycles in Oregon populations of the echinoid Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Stimpson). I. Annual gonad growth and ovarian gametogenic cycles. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 12:45–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrold C, Reed DC (1985) Food availability, sea urchin grazing, and kelp forest community structure. Ecology 66:1160–1169

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinger TS, Watts SA, Forcucci D (1988) Effects of short term feeding and starvation on storage and synthetic capacities of the gut tissues of Lytechinus variegatus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea). J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 117:187–195

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klumpp DW, Salita-Espinosa JT, Fortes MD (1993) Feeding ecology and trophic role of sea urchins in a tropical seagrass community. Aquat Bot 45:205–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuo J, McComb AJ (1989) Seagrass taxonomy, structure and development. In: Larkum AWD, McComb AJ, Shepherd SA (eds) Biology of seagrasses. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 6–73

  • Lawrence JM (1975) On the relationship between marine plants and sea urchins. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev 13:213–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence JM, Agatsuma Y (2001) The ecology of Tripneustes. In: Lawrence JM (ed) Edible sea urchins: biology and ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 395–413

  • Lawrence JM, Hughes-Games L (1972) The diurnal rhythm of feeding and passage of food through the gut of Diadema setosum (Echinodermata: Echinoidea). Isr J Zool 21:13–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence JM, Lane JM (1982) The utilization of nutrients by post-metamorphic echinoderms. In: Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm nutrition. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 331–371

  • Lawrence JM, Lawrence AL, Holland ND (1965) Annual cycle in the size of the gut of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Stimpson). Nature 205:1238–1239

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence JM, Lawrence AL, Giese AC (1966) Role of the gut as a nutrient-storage organ in the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). Physiol Zool 39:281–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Lison de Loma T (2000) Transferts de matière et d'éléments nutritifs sur les récifs coralliens de l'Ile de La Réunion par deux herbivores, Tripneustes gratilla (Echinodermata, Echinoidea) et Stegastes nigricans (Pisces, Pomacentridae). PhD thesis, Université de la Réunion, Réunion

  • Lison de Loma T, Harmelin-Vivien ML, Conand C (1999) Diel feeding rhythm of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (L.) on a coral reef at La Reunion, Indian Ocean. In: Carnevali C, Bonasoro (eds) Echinoderm research. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 87–92

  • Lowe EF (1974) Absorption efficiencies, feeding rates, and food preferences of Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) for selected marine plants. Master's thesis, University of South Florida, Sarasota

  • Maharavo J, Régis MB, Thomassin BA (1994) Food preference of Tripneustes gratilla (L.) (Echinoidea) on fringing reef flats off the NW coast of Madagascar (SW Indian Ocean). In: David, Guille, Féral, Roux (eds) Echinoderm through time. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 769–774

  • McClanahan TR (1999) Predation and the control of the sea urchin Echinometra viridis and fleshy algae in the patch reefs of Glovers Reef, Belize. Ecosystems 2:511–523

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson BV, Vance RR (1979) Diel foraging patterns of the sea urchin Centrostephanus coronatus as a predator avoidance strategy. Mar Biol 51:251–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Nojima S, Mukai H (1985) A preliminary report on the distribution pattern, daily activity and moving pattern of a seagrass grazer, Tripneustes gratilla (L.) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea), in Papua New Guinean sea grass beds. Spec Publ Mukaishima Mar Biol Stn 173–183

  • Ogden JC (1976) Some aspects of herbivore–plant relationships on Carribean reefs and seagrass beds. Aquat Bot 2:103–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogden JC, Lobel PS (1978) The role of herbivorous fishes and urchins in coral reef communities. Environ Biol Fishes 3:49–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogden JC, Brown R, Salesky N (1973) Grazing by the echinoid Diadema antillarum Phillipi: formation of halos around West Indian patch reefs. Science 182:715–717

    Google Scholar 

  • Spirlet C, Grosjean P, Jangoux M (1998) Reproductive cycle of the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus: analysis by means of the maturity index. Invertebr Reprod Dev 34:69–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumich JL, McCaulery JE (1973) Growth of a sea urchin, Allocentrotus fragilis, off the Oregon coast. Pacif Sci 27:156–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Tertschnig WP (1989) Diel activity patterns and foraging dynamics of the sea urchin Tripneustes ventricosus in a tropical seagrass community and a reef environment (Virgin Islands). Mar Ecol 10:3–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Vadas RL (1977) Preferential feeding: an optimization strategy in sea urchins. Ecol Monogr 47:337–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Vance RR (1979) Effects of grazing by the sea urchin, Centrostephanus coronatus, on prey community composition. Ecology 60:537–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker CW (1982) Nutrition of gametes. In: Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm nutrition. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 449–468

  • Zar JH (1996) Biostatistical analysis, 3rd edn. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funds from the C.U.D. (Coopération Universitaire au Développement) of the French Community of Belgium in the framework of the Tropical Echinoculture Programme in Madagascar. We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of J.M. Ouin. We wish to thank F. Mamitiana, J. Ralainirina, P. Manohitsara for field assistance and Prosper, our sailor. We are greatly indebted to R. Baronce and B. Senterre, who helped in dissections. This paper is a contribution of the "Centre Interuniversitaire de Biologie Marine" (CIBIM).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Marine (CP 160/15), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt no. 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    D. Vaïtilingon, R. Rasolofonirina & M. Jangoux

  2. Aqua-lab, Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Tuléar, BP 141, 601, Tuléar, Madagascar

    D. Vaïtilingon, R. Rasolofonirina & M. Jangoux

  3. Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université de Mons-Hainaut, 7000, Mons, Belgium

    M. Jangoux

Authors
  1. D. Vaïtilingon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Rasolofonirina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Jangoux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Vaïtilingon.

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne Oldendorf/Luhe

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vaïtilingon, D., Rasolofonirina, R. & Jangoux, M. Feeding preferences, seasonal gut repletion indices, and diel feeding patterns of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) on a coastal habitat off Toliara (Madagascar). Marine Biology 143, 451–458 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1111-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1111-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation