Seasonal atrophy of the visceral organs in a sea cucumber

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 2888-2892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter V. Fankboner ◽  
J. Lane Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Food Availability ◽  
Sea Cucumber ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Visceral Organs ◽  
Locomotory Behaviour ◽  
Respiratory Trees

The gut, gonad, respiratory trees, and circulatory system of the commercial sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus are annually lost as a result of atrophy of these organs and not, as originally supposed, through spontaneous, seasonal evisceration. Visceral loss is preceded by cessation of feeding–locomotory behaviour. Torpor ensues, and the visceral tissues are absorbed through a progressive process which includes phagocytosis by the sea cucumber's coelomocytes and, in some instances, the scavenging activities of endosymbionts. Regeneration of the viscera occurs within several weeks. Similar seasonal atrophy of the visceral organs has not been reported to occur in other coelomate organisms. We hypothesize that visceral atrophy in P. californicus is an expression of seasonal diapause induced by reduced food availability.

Respiration and biometry in the sea cucumber Holothuria forskali

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Astall ◽  
M. B. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Sea Cucumber ◽  
Regression Line ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Mechanical Trauma ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Sea Cucumbers ◽  
Oxygen Tensions ◽  
Respiratory Trees

Relationships between wet body weight, dry body weight and ash-free dry body weight (AFDW) were established for the aspidochirote sea cucumber Holothuria forskali (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea); a wetdry weight ratio of 6–38:1 was found. Length-weight relations were also determined. Low oxygen tensions and mechanical trauma induced H. forskali to eviscerate (70% of individuals tested). Respiratory measurements of intact and eviscerated sea cucumbers were determined at 17°C. For intact animals, oxygen consumption (ul h1) was directly related to AFDW (the slope of the regression line, b=0–60), whereas weight-specific oxygen consumption (Vo2; ul g1AFDW h) was inversely related to AFDW (b=0–54). Oxygen consumption of eviscerated sea cucumbers was independent of AFDW (b=0-\5), but Vo 2 was inversely related to AFDW (t–0–85). There were no significant differences between the respiratory rates of intact and eviscerated individuals, indicating that H. forskali is not so dependent upon respiratory trees for oxygen uptake as previously assumed.

Studies on an endoparasitic ciliate Boveria labialis (Protozoa: Ciliophora) from the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongan Long ◽  
Weibo Song ◽  
Jiaxin Chen ◽  
Jun Gong ◽  
Daode Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Sea Cucumber ◽  
Apostichopus Japonicus ◽  
Silver Impregnation ◽  
Contractile Vacuole ◽  
Protozoa Ciliophora ◽  
Respiratory Trees

The morphology and infraciliature of an endoparasitic ciliate, Boveria labialis, isolated from respiratory trees of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, were investigated using living observation and silver impregnation methods. Based on the present and previous studies, an improved diagnosis is supplied: marine Boveria, size in vivo about 30–100×15–30 μm, body slender and flask-shaped, with a protruding lobe measuring 5–15 μm in length; one ovoid macronucleus and one micronucleus; single contractile vacuole positioned in posterior 1¼ of body length; 17–26 somatic kineties; paroral membrane and membranelle 2 forming a double anticlockwise spiral of nearly two turns.

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