Diversity and abundance of sea cucumber (Holothuroidea) in seagrass ecosystem at Suli Village, Maluku, Indonesia

Abstract

Sea cucumber (Holothuroidea) is one of the marine resources that play an important ecology and economy roles. Sea cucumber has been reported to have high abundance in the seagrass ecosystem at Suli Village, however, its population has been reported to decline quite recently. It is speculated that this problem caused by environmental pressure due to human activity in form of marine tourism and also the change of physical properties of the coast due to abrasion. The aims of this study were to analyze the diversity and abundance of sea cucumber in the seagrass ecosystem of Suli Village. The study was conducted from September to October 2017. A sample of sea cucumber was collected through linear transect quadrate and identified down to species level through microscopic analysis of sea cucumber spicula shape. The number of species found then used to calculate some population ecology parameters. Our result showed that there are 14 species of sea cucumber found in the seagrass ecosystem of Suli Village that belong to 5 genera and 3 families. Holothuria scabra being the species with the highest density (0.0347 ind m−2) whereas Stichopus chloronotus has the lowest density (0.0004 ind m−2). Species with the highest abundance is Holothuria scabra (4,164 individuals) while the lowest abundance belongs to Stichopus chloronotus (53 individuals). In conclusion, the diversity of sea cucumber in Suli Village was considered high but its level of dominance was considered low.