Ecology Summary - Holothuria atra

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Ecology of Holothuria atra

Main Ref.	Conand, C., 1998
Remarks	A common shallow-water species, rarely found at depths of more than 20 m, mostly on inner and outer reef flats and back reefs or shallow coastal lagoons; abundant on sandy-muddy grounds with rubble or coral patches and in seagrass beds (Ref. 122). Intertidal. Also found on coarse and fine sandy areas in coral communities (Ref. 129602). Body is often almost completely covered by sand grains (Ref. 102838). The mean population density is about 0.5/square meter, but can exceed 4/square meter. Inshore shallow-water populations are denser, composed of smaller individuals, while deeper or outer reef populations, individuals are more scattered and with larger sizes (Ref. 122). Feeds on Halimeda sp. (Ref. 118). Known to release a wine-colored exudate when rubbed vigorously (Ref. 85218).

Main Ref.

Conand, C., 1998

Remarks

A common shallow-water species, rarely found at depths of more than 20 m, mostly on inner and outer reef flats and back reefs or shallow coastal lagoons; abundant on sandy-muddy grounds with rubble or coral patches and in seagrass beds (Ref. 122). Intertidal. Also found on coarse and fine sandy areas in coral communities (Ref. 129602). Body is often almost completely covered by sand grains (Ref. 102838). The mean population density is about 0.5/square meter, but can exceed 4/square meter. Inshore shallow-water populations are denser, composed of smaller individuals, while deeper or outer reef populations, individuals are more scattered and with larger sizes (Ref. 122). Feeds on Halimeda sp. (Ref. 118). Known to release a wine-colored exudate when rubbed vigorously (Ref. 85218).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Holothuria atra may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; Soft Bottom: sand ( coarse, fine, ); mud; Hard Bottom: rocky; rubble;
Substrate Ref.	Conand, C., 1998
Special habitats	Beds: rock; sea grass; Coral Reefs: reef flats; lagoons;
Special habitats Ref.	Kerr, A.M., K. Netchy and A.M. Gawel, 2006

Associations

Ref.	Claereboudt, M.R., 2019
Associations
Associated with	Holothuria leucospilota; Holothuria arenacava; Holothuria edulis.
Association remarks	Commonly found along with other Holothuria spp.
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	James, D.B., 2001
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.	James, D.B., 2001

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.

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