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<p>This study investigates the ecological adaptability and survival strategies of the tropical sea cucumber <i>Holothuria edulis</i> in response to typhoon disturbances and varying substrate types within coral reef ecosystems. Using in situ mesocosm enclosure experiments at Wuzhizhou Island (sandy, broken coral branches, and reef blocks; n = 4 per group) and high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed gut content microbial communities to assess feeding selectivity, habitat behavior, and metabolic functional responses under natural and controlled conditions. Two consecutive typhoons (Lionrock and Kompasu) impacted the study area during the experimental period, enabling an examination of short-term extreme environmental effects. Results revealed that <i>H. edulis</i> exhibits weak feeding selectivity and substrate generalism when food availability is consistent, with gut content microbiota primarily shaped by temporal changes in food sources rather than habitat type. Typhoon events triggered significant restructuring of the gut content microbial community, including an increased abundance of photoautotrophic taxa such as <i>Synechococcus</i> CC9902, coinciding with a metabolic shift from heterotrophy to photoautotrophy. Despite exposure to adverse conditions, enclosed individuals showed resilience with no mortality and maintained feeding activity, suggesting effective coping mechanisms. These findings highlight <i>H. edulis</i>’ ecological flexibility and its potential role in maintaining benthic ecosystem stability under environmental stress, with implications for conservation and restoration in degraded coral reef habitats.</p>

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Substrate generalism and typhoon resilience in tropical sea cucumber Holothuria edulis: insights from gut content microbiome dynamics

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月6日

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  • Chunyang Sun,
  • Chenghao Jia,
  • Yanan Wang,
  • Fei Gao,
  • Qiang Xu

摘要

This study investigates the ecological adaptability and survival strategies of the tropical sea cucumber Holothuria edulis in response to typhoon disturbances and varying substrate types within coral reef ecosystems. Using in situ mesocosm enclosure experiments at Wuzhizhou Island (sandy, broken coral branches, and reef blocks; n = 4 per group) and high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed gut content microbial communities to assess feeding selectivity, habitat behavior, and metabolic functional responses under natural and controlled conditions. Two consecutive typhoons (Lionrock and Kompasu) impacted the study area during the experimental period, enabling an examination of short-term extreme environmental effects. Results revealed that H. edulis exhibits weak feeding selectivity and substrate generalism when food availability is consistent, with gut content microbiota primarily shaped by temporal changes in food sources rather than habitat type. Typhoon events triggered significant restructuring of the gut content microbial community, including an increased abundance of photoautotrophic taxa such as Synechococcus CC9902, coinciding with a metabolic shift from heterotrophy to photoautotrophy. Despite exposure to adverse conditions, enclosed individuals showed resilience with no mortality and maintained feeding activity, suggesting effective coping mechanisms. These findings highlight H. edulis’ ecological flexibility and its potential role in maintaining benthic ecosystem stability under environmental stress, with implications for conservation and restoration in degraded coral reef habitats.