Ecological effects of co-culturing sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) with scallop Chlamys farreri in earthen ponds

Abstract

Monthly changes in sedimentation and sediment properties were studied for three different culture treatments: sea cucumber monoculture (Mc), sea cucumber and scallop polyculture (Ps-c) and scallop monoculture (Ms). Results indicated that the survival rate of sea cucumber was significantly higher in Ps-c cultures than in Mc cultures. Sea cucumber yield was 69.6% higher in Ps-c culture than in Mc culture. No significant differences in body weight and scallop shell length were found between Ps-c and Ms cultures. The mean sedimentation rate of total particulate matter (TPM) was 72.2 g/(m 2 ⋅d) in Ps-c cultures, with a maximum of 119.7 g/(m 2 ⋅d), which was markedly higher than that of Mc (mean value). Sedimentation rates of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in Ps-c cultures were also significantly higher than those in Mc cultures. TOC and TN contents of sediment increased rapidly in the first 5 months in Ms cultures and remained at a high level. TOC and TN contents in Mc and Ps-c cultures decreased during sea cucumber feeding seasons and increased during sea cucumber dormancy periods (summer and winter). The study demonstrates that co-culture of sea cucumber and scallop in earthen ponds is an alternative way to alleviate nutrient loads and improve water quality in coastal aquaculture systems. Moreover, it provides the additional benefit of an increased sea cucumber yield.

Role of deposit‐feeding sea cucumbers in integrated multitrophic aquaculture: progress, problems, potential and future challenges

“…Increasingly, complex multitrophic pond systems are being commercially piloted in China with larger juvenile A. japonicus stocked at high densities (~10 g at density of 10 ind m À2 ) in IMTA with other species such as the scallop Chlamys farreri, and the jellyfish, Rhopilema esculentum, the crab Charybdis japonica, and shrimps Penaeus japonicus and Fenneropenaeus chinensis in varying combinations (Zheng et al 2009;Ren et al 2012bRen et al , 2014Feng et al 2014;Li et al 2014a,b).…”

Growth performance of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra and the seaweed Eucheuma denticulatum: integrated mariculture and effects on sediment organic characteristics

“…Slater & Carton (2009) made a similar observation with Australostichopus mollis in coastal sediments impacted by mussel farm deposits. Furthermore, in an integrated system of sea cucumber A. japonicus with scallop Chlamys farreri, Ren et al (2012) observed a decline in TOC as a result of sea cucumber feeding, but there was an increase in TOC in sediments during periods of sea cucumber dormancy. Sediment reworking and organic matter uptake by holothurians could depend on individual numbers and sizes, food availability and local conditions (Dar & Ahmad 2006).…”

Chemical composition and release rate of waste discharge from an Atlantic salmon farm with an evaluation of IMTA feasibility

“…The potential for mussel production that was based on particulate wastes, however, was far lower than for seaweed because of fewer initial available resources and the metabolic losses of mussels . Most of the particles originating from fish faeces or uneaten feed may sediment out near the cages (Elberizon & Kelly 1998); such wastes may be better utilised by co-cultured depositfeeding species, for example sea cucumbers, and the nutritional value of the particle wastes released from fish farming should be more closely evaluated (Gré-mare et al 1997, Ahlgren 1998, Ren et al 2012.…”