Seagrass ecosystems of Ritche’s Archipelago in the Andaman Sea harbor ‘Endangered’ Holothuria scabra Jaeger, 1833 and ‘Vulnerable’ Actinopyga mauritiana (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) sea cucumber species (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study reports the presence of ‘Endangered’ sea cucumber Holothuria scabra for the first time from the mixed seagrasses of Havelock Island, and the ‘Vulnerable’ Actinopyga mauritiana from the monospecific Thalassia hemprichii meadows from Neil Island of Ritche’s Archipelago of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI). Both species were found during field survey of intertidal seagrass ecosystems of Ritche’s Archipelago. Morphometric measurements were carried out in the field using a vernier caliper, and identification was confirmed using the identification guide for sea cucumbers of ANI provided by the Zoological Survey of India. The total body length of the H. scabra specimen was 15.7 cm, mouth width of 3.2 cm and body circumference of 5.7 cm. The specimen was a juvenile, grey in color with a total of 17 black and yellow transverse stripes along the body. The average body length of A. mauritiana specimens examined differed between those from seagrass meadows (20.4 cm) non-seagrass areas (15.7 cm) as did mouth width and total circumference. Mono and mixed seagrass meadows of ANI are critical habitats for sea cucumbers and require monitoring and protection for conservation of declining populations.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT. This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership. Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.
References
Arnull, J., A. Wilson, K. Brayne, K. Dexter, A. Donah, C. Gough & A. Tudhope (2021). Ecological co-benefits from sea cucumber farming: Holothuria scabra increases growth rate of seagrass. Aquaculture Environment Interactions 13: 301–310. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00409 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00409
Aulia, E.D., F.K. Muzaki, D. Saptarini, E. Setiawan, D. Setiamarga, I.D. Lutvianti & N.A. Muhammad (2021). Diversity of sea cucumber from intertidal area of Pacitan and Bangkalan, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22(4): 2136–2141. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d220463 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d220463
Conand, C., S. Purcell & R. Gamboa (2013). Actinopyga mauritiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T180337A1616879. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180337A1616879.en. Accessed on 12 March 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180337A1616879.en
Costa, V., A. Mazzola & S. Vizzini (2014). Holothuria tubulosa Gmelin 1791 (Holothuroidea, Echinodermata) enhances organic matter recycling in Posidonia oceanica meadows. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 461: 226–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.08.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.08.008
Floren, A.S., K. Hayashizaki, S. Putchakarn, P. Tuntiprapas & A. Prathep (2021). A review of factors influencing the seagrass-sea cucumber association in tropical seagrass meadows. Frontiers in Marine Science 8(November): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.696134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.696134
Gamage, L.K.T., G.G.N. Thushari, K.S.S. Atapaththu, R.S.K.H. Kondaramage & J.D.M. Senevirathna (2021). Diversity, Length-Weight Relations, and Condition Factor of Sea Cucumbers in Three Coastal Areas Along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka: A Case Study. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 21(12): 575–588. https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v21_12_01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v21_12_01
Gole, S., P.I. Mohammed, D. Apte & N. Marimuthu (2022). Holothurian spatial variability and substratum preference in the intertidal habitats of the Andaman Sea. Regional Studies in Marine Science 56: 102633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102633 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102633
Hamel, J.-F., A. Mercier, C. Conand, S. Purcell, T.-G. Toral-Granda & R. Gamboa (2013). Holothuria scabra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T180257A1606648. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180257A1606648.en. Accessed on 12 March 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180257A1606648.en
Idreesbabu, K.K. & S. Sureshkumar (2017). Distribution pattern and community structure of sea cucumbers (Class: Holothuroidea) in different biogeographic regions of the selected Islands of Lakshadweep Archipelago, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 46(3): 569–575.
Jontila, J.B.S., R.A.T. Balisco & G.T. Batin (2017). Species composition, density and distribution of sea cucumbers. SPC Beche-de-Mer Information Bulletin 37(March): 21–29.
Kinch, J. & K. Friedman (2008). Papua New Guinea: a hotspot of sea cucumber fisheries in the Western Central Pacific (January), pp. 57–77. In: Toral-Granda, V., A. Lovatelli & M. Vasconcellos (eds). Sea Cucumbers. A Global Review of Fisheries and Trade. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No . 516. Rome, FAO.
Mishra, A. & D. Apte (2020). Ecological connectivity with mangroves influences tropical seagrass population longevity and meadow traits within an island ecosystem. Marine Ecology Progress Series 644: 47–63. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13349 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13349
Mishra, A.K. & R. Mohanraju (2018). Epiphytic bacterial communities in seagrass meadows of oligotrophic waters of Andaman Sea. OALib 05(03): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104388
Mishra, A.K. & S.H. Farooq (2022). Trace metal accumulation in seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems of India: comparative assessment and bioindicator potential. Marine Pollution Bulletin 174: 113251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113251 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113251
Mishra, A.K., P. Acharya, D. Apte & S.H. Farooq (2023). Seagrass ecosystem adjacent to mangroves store higher amount of organic carbon of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andaman Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 193(June): 115135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115135
Mishra, A.K., S. Narayana & D. Apte (2021). Loss of Dugong Grass [Halophila ovalis (R. Brown)] population structure due to habitat disturbance in an island ecosystem. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 50(02): 115–121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56042/ijms.v50i02.66084
Mohammednowshad, B., K.K. Idreesbabu & S. Sureshkumar (2021). Habitat wise variability in the diversity of sea cucumbers in Lakshadweep Archipelago, North-Western Indian Ocean. Regional Studies in Marine Science 45: 101805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101805 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101805
Navarro, P.G., S. García-Sanz & F. Tuya (2014). Contrasting displacement of the sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis between adjacent nearshore habitats. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 453: 123–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.01.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.01.008
Purcell, S.W., Y. Samyn & C. Conand (2012). Commercially Important Sea Cucumbers of The World. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes No. 6. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 150 pp.
Raghunathan, C. & K. Venkataraman (2014). Status Survey Of Holothurians (Sea Cucumber) in The Territorial Waters of Andaman And Nicobar Islands. Zoological Survey of India, 96 pp.
Vinod, K., L. Ranjith, B. Johnson & E. Vivekanandan (2017). Conservation and Sustainable Use of Sea Cucumber Resources in India: Suggestions and Way Forward. CMFRI Marine Fisheries Policy Series No. 7. CAR-CMFRI Kochi, 78 pp.