Neighboring fauna of sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in collectors on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Isostichopus fuscus is an invertebrate species distributed from Baja California to the Galapagos Islands. I. fuscus holds significant economic value in international markets; however, overfishing has led to its classification as an endangered species. Additionally, the surrounding fauna of I. fuscus remains unknown; such information would be valuable for establishing sea cucumber production sites, which rely on the biodiversity surrounding the larvae of this species. This study aimed to determine the accompanying fauna found in Isostichopus fuscus collectors and identify the most representative marine inhabitants to understand their ecological roles. Multiple collectors were installed to simulate the marine habitat where sea cucumbers develop. Associated fauna was collected from two different sites on Santa Cruz Island: La Fe and Las Palmas. The presence or absence of species was compared using diversity indices. Las Palmas exhibited a low level of biodiversity (Shannon = 1.792) and low evenness (Simpson = 0.253). La Fe showed higher biodiversity (Shannon = 2.088) and greater evenness (Simpson = 0.459). Dominant species recorded included: Polyonyx nitidus, Megabalanus vinaceus, and polychaetes. Both sites have a rich influx of fauna, which is beneficial for the conservation of I. fuscus.