Density and abundance of sea cucumber at seagrass ecosystem in Paperu Waters, Saparua Bay, Maluku

Abstract

Sea cucumbers, Holothurians, are high economic value resources according to their utilization for food and medicine. Due to the roles affect the increasing of sea cucumber exploitation in natural, the sea cucumbers are consequently categorized as endangered species. People in Saparua Island have been utilized the resources for years, including people in Paperu. Hence, the research was carried out to analyze the density and abundance of sea cucumber species at the seagrass ecosystem on Paperu Waters Saparua Bay. The research was conducted in October 2017 by using the linear transect method which consisted of three stations and 9 transects. The results showed that no less than eight species were found on the site, which were classified into one order, two families, and three genera. The eight species are approximately found in various densities and abundance, i.e. Bohadschia bivittata, B. marmorata, B. vitiensis, Holothuria atra, H. edulis, H. leucospilota, H. scabra, and Stichopus horrens. The highest density and abundance was found at species Bohadschia vitiensis and B. bivittata, respectively 0,16 ind.m−2 and 5.336 ind, while the lowest density and abundance were found at species H. leucospilota (0,04 ind.m−2 and 1.334 ind).