US EPA

7880465 

Journal Article 

Comparative distribution and habitat preference of the sea cucumber Holothuria atra Jaeger at protected and unprotected sites inThoothukudi region of Gulf of Mannar, south-east coast of India 

Asha, PS; Diwakar, K; Santhanavalli, G; Manissery, MK 

2015 

Yes 

Indian Journal of Fisheries
ISSN: 0970-6011 

62 

1 

52-57 

WOS:000353442800009 

The present study was conducted to understand the density, biomass, size distribution and habitat preference of the holothurian, Holothuria atra, at a protected and an unprotected site in Thoothukudi region of Gulf of Mannar. Water quality and sediment characteristics of these stations were also assessed. At the unprotected station (St. I), comparatively lower numerical density (mean 0.044 +/- 0.003 nos. m(-2)) as well as lower biomass (6.33 +/- 0.99 g m(-2)) of H. atra were observed, rubble constituted the dominant habitat and the population comprised entirely of adult specimens. At the protected station (St. 2), the numerical density varied between 0.17 to 1.43 nos. m(-2) and biomass between 12.9 to 161.7 g m(-2). Sand constituted the dominant habitat and the population comprised both adults and fission pieces. Significant difference was noticed in the numerical density and biomass between stations (p<0.001). Except for the pH and high nitrite concentration, other water quality parameters were within the desired limit at St. 2. The sediment quality criteria, especially in terms of organic carbon (1.46 +/- 0.22%), organic matter (2.50 +/- 0.4%) and nitrogen concentration (0.12 +/- 0.02%) were comparatively higher in the sediment at St. 2. Significant differences were observed in the variation of organic carbon, organic matter and N-2 between stations (p<0.001). 

Density; Fission pieces; Gulf of Mannar; Habitat preference; Holothuria atra; Sea cucumber