The phytodetritus is the remains of phytoplankton from shallow water locations which drifts down like snow or under certain conditions sinks rapidly to the sea floor.

The eggs are small (less than 200μm in diameter) and lack much yolk indicating that larval development is likely to be planktonic.

The species displays a high level of fecundity and it is likely that mass spawning takes place after some external stimulus such as a sudden increase in food supply.

The rate at which 100% of the surface layer of the seabed was completely turned over was reduced from two and a half years to six weeks.

[5] The increase in density of the sea cucumbers has been linked to a greater abundance of phytodetritus and this in turn may be due to higher surface water temperatures caused by climate change.