Species composition and density of sea cucumbers in Buru Regency, Maluku Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Species composition and density are a feature of the biological adaptation of organisms to their habitat conditions. Composition and density need to be known because it is related to resource exploitation. Sea cucumber is a marine resource that is exploited intensively. Sea cucumbers are marine benthic organisms with important economic values found largely in Indonesian waters, especially in Kayeli Bay. Although sea cucumbers have high economic value, there was no information regarding the species and distribution of sea cucumbers in Kayeli Bay. This study aims to assess the species composition and density of sea cucumbers in Kayeli Bay, Buru Regency, Maluku Province, Indonesia. This study used method line transects and plots. Sampling was done at four stations with different habitat characteristics. Sampling was carried out at night when the tide was lowest. Sea cucumbers tend to be on the surface of the substrate at night. The species composition was presented in percentage, and density was presented in the number per unit space. The composition of sea cucumbers in Kayeli Bay was Holothuria scabra (25%), H. scabra var. versicolor (19%), H. argus (8%), H. edulis (12%), H. atra (3%), H. vacabunda (2%), Actinopyga lecanora (4%), Bochasdchia marmorata (7%), Stichopus variegatus (17%), Thelenota ananas (3%). Species composition and density of sea cucumber in the waters of Buru Regency are closely related to the bottom substrate. H. scabra and S. variegatus preferred muddy substrate. The density of H. scabra was 41 ± 9, and S. variegatus was 31 ± 8 per 25 m2. More species of sea cucumber inhabit the sand substrate in the coastal area adjacent to the coral ecosystem with low density.