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Interactions with Ecosystem
O. Planci interacts with its ecosystem in multiple ways.

Parasitism
Sea cucumbers have a parasitic relationship with amphipods. The amphipods bury into a pit in the mantle of the host sea cucumber. The amphipods can bury into the mantle within 9 minutes and can re-inhabit a sea cucumber after removing itself. The oral and dorsal side of the mantle is preferential to the amphipods. The dorsal side of the sea cucumber is that facing towards the body cavity. The amphipods can inhabit a single sea cucumber in high densities.

The amphipods impact the structure of the mantle of the sea cucumber when they inhabit it. The outer epithelium is not impacted by the parasite. The sub epithelial layer and the outer dermis are impacted by the amphipods. The sub epithelial layer becomes 90% thinner and the amoeba cells are more dispersed and less dense. The outer dermis becomes 65% thinner. Additionally, the ossicles in the outer dermis become more compact and there is less connective tissue. The innermost layers ( inner dermis and body wall) are not impacted.

Biotuburators
As biotuburators, sea cucumbers play a role in the distribution of nutrients in their environment. Sea cucumbers alter nutrient flux, distribute food to new areas, and change geological gradients. Sea cucumbers are omnivorous deposit-feeders. One source of food for sea cucumbers is benthic bacteria. While the sea cucumbers do consume them, they also create better conditions for bacterial growth. They do so by increasing  and reduce metabolite levels. Similar to benthic bacteria, coral is a source of food for sea cucumbers. Sea cucumbers use the organic matter within coral as a food source. In the process of digesting the coral within their digestive system, sea cucumbers release, which increases the alkalinity of the surrounding environment. Ammonia is a byproduct of the digestive process, which enhances the productivity of reefs by redistributing nutrients.