Résumé:
A study on the diet of the species Holothuria poli in the coastal area of Mostaganem (Stidia,
Salamandre, and Petit Port) was conducted to gain insight into the contribution of different
trophic sources in the diet of this benthic animal. Our results show that the trophic sources of
the studied sea cucumber are highly diversified, but predominantly of animal origin.
The diet of Holothuria poli exhibits variability only based on the sampling site. In Stidia, the
studied sea cucumber prefers Foraminifera and Jania sp within the two rocky habitats
(46.16% and 14.30%, respectively) and the seagrass habitat of Cymodocea nodosa (59.07%
and 11.59%, respectively). In the rocky habitat of the Salamandre site, Holothuria poli shows
a higher preference for Foraminifera (63.11%), to a lesser extent Ceramium sp (7.01%), and
sponge spicules (6.01%); whereas in the seagrass habitat of Cymodocea nodosa, this marine
animal prefers Foraminifera (44.19%) and living leaves of Posidonia (12.11%). Finally, in the
rocky habitat of the Petit Port site, Holothuria poli consumes a higher proportion of
Foraminifera (44.63%), living leaves of Posidonia (14.75%), and Diatoms (11.14%); while it
only prefers Foraminifera (48.26%) and Diatoms (21.54%) within the seagrass habitat of
Cymodocea nodosa.This study demonstrates a certain trophic plasticity in the species Holothuria poli, allowing it
to better adapt to the constraints of its environment.
