摘要
The Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus is a major target for fisheries, aquaculture, and stock enhancement because of its high commercial value. Knowledge of their survival strategies is crucial for appropriate management of this species. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the behavioral response of A. japonicus juveniles upon contact with a predator or its chemical stimuli. When hatchery-reared A. japonicus juveniles had direct contact with the predatory sea star, their movement speed increased, and the direction of their body axis changed compared with those before contact. The body lengths of the A. japonicus juveniles were longer when they were closer to the predator, suggesting that stretching their body is among their strategies to avoid predation. When the chemical stimuli from the predator was provided, the A. japonicus juveniles changed their movement similar to how they moved upon direct contact with the predator. These results suggest that the predator avoidance behavior of A. japonicus juveniles is elicited by the chemical and/or tactile stimuli from predators. Considering that we used hatchery-reared seedlings, these responses were innate rather than an acquired behavior. An extension of the present study, including the comparison to wild individuals, should substantially contribute to the management of A. japonicus population.
摘要译文
日本海参japonicus是渔业，水产养殖和股票增强的主要目标，因为它具有较高的商业价值。了解其生存策略对于适当管理该物种至关重要。因此，这项研究旨在确定与捕食者或其化学刺激接触时japonicus少年的行为反应。当孵化场饲养的japonicus少年与掠食性海星直接接触时，其运动速度会增加，并且与接触之前的孵化场相比，其身体轴的方向变化了。japonicus少年的身体长度更长，当它们靠近捕食者时，他们的身体长度表明，伸展身体是避免捕食的策略之一。当提供了来自捕食者的化学刺激时，japonicus少年改变了运动，类似于他们与捕食者直接接触时的运动方式。这些结果表明，捕食者的化学和/或触觉刺激引起了japonicus少年的捕食者回避行为。考虑到我们使用了孵化场饲养的幼苗，这些反应是天生的，而不是获得的行为。本研究的扩展，包括与野生个体的比较，应大大有助于对japonicus的人群的管理。
Yukako Kono [1];Hideaki Maeda [2];Reiji Masuda [3];. Predator avoidance behavior of Japanese sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus juveniles elicited by contact with and chemical stimuli from predatory sea stars[J]. Plankton and Benthos Research, 2025,20(1): 76-83